A Pakistani reached India on an Iraqi ship, but the officials turned him back:

News Topical, Digital Desk : A case of sending back Pakistani and Syrian crew members of an Iraqi cargo ship at Karwar Port in Karnataka has come to light. Actually, a cargo ship flying the flag of Iraq arrived at Karwar Port. The crew of this cargo ship was not allowed to land at Karwar Port because Pakistani and Syrian citizens were present in it. A senior official of Karwar Port said that the Pakistani and Syrian citizens have been sent back.

Decision taken for security reasons

Let us tell you that the port authorities took this decision due to the security instructions issued after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. 26 people were killed in this attack, most of whom were tourists. At the same time, in a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan, India canceled the visas of all Pakistani citizens in the country, forcing them to leave immediately. Also, Pakistani-flagged ships were banned from entering Indian ports.

The ship came from Iraq

In fact, the Iraqi ship, which sailed from Al Zubair in Iraq, was carrying bitumen to Karwar. The senior official said that the ship arrived at Karwar Port in Karnataka with a crew of 15 Indian nationals, one Pakistani and two Syrian nationals. Senior officials said that as per standard inspection protocols and strict monitoring, the presence of a Pakistani and Syrian national on the ship led to a security response from the port authorities and coastal security police. Subsequently, the mobile phones of the three persons were seized through the captain of the ship to restrict their communication. The Pakistani national and Syrian nationals were kept on the ship for two days while the cargo was being unloaded.

Enhanced security

"Though international cargo ships often have crew members from different countries, they are generally not allowed to disembark at Indian ports without any special clearance. In this case, standard restrictions were imposed in view of the current security scenario," the port official said. Meanwhile, Coast Guard Police Inspector Nischal Kumar said, "The individuals were instructed not to use mobile phones and were sent back with the ship. Coastal surveillance has been increased and sensitive areas along the coastline are being closely monitored."