India has condemned the attack on the commercial vessel MV Cape Dao earlier today off the east coast of Oman. The Ministry of External Affairs said, of the 20 Indian seafarers on board, 19 have been rescued, while one Indian national tragically lost his life. It offered its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. It said, the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities for early repatriation of the Indian seafarers. The Ministry thanked the Omani authorities for their support.
It said, the continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome. New Delhi reiterated its call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and enable early return of peace to the region. Ministry of External Affairs said, the targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region must be restored at the earliest.
