Attacks on seafarers in West Asia ‘indefensible’, says S Jaishankar

Union Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that attacks on seafarers and commercial ships were “regrettably” no longer exceptional occurrences and the loss of lives was “indefensible”, PTI reported.

His remarks came two days after an Indian seafarer was killed in an attack on a commercial ship off the coast of Oman. It was the 11th death of an Indian ship crew member in the Strait of Hormuz since the war in West Asia began.

The external affairs minister’s remarks also came on the day India and Liberia announced the establishment of a “group of friends” on the safety and security of shipping and seafarers on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

“In the last few months, commercial shipping and mariners have been subjected to repeated attacks in the Gulf, the Red Sea and its vicinity,” PTI quoted Jaishankar as saying. “These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible.”

He added: “India, as a major source of seafarers, and Liberia, as the largest shipping registry, have come together to highlight the safety and security of shipping and seafarers.”

West Asia war

The war in West Asia began when the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran’s action posed an existential...

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