An Indian fishing boat was fired at and later sunk by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) near Mitha Port in Gujarat on January 17. Sources said the incident occurred around 7 am leading to drowning of seven Indian fishermen. While six of them were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard, one fisherman is reported missing and now presumed dead.
A senior Gujarat government official confirmed that the Coast Guard had rescued six fishermen, and one was still missing. He said that as many as 438 Indian fishermen, mostly from Gujarat, are languishing in Pakistani jails.
The incident marks another level of hostility between the two neighbours, who so far had desisted firing on fishing boats — instead they took fishermen in custody when they crossed unmarked international maritime boundaries.
As per preliminary information, the PMSA vessel fired at the Indian fishing boat and then rammed into it. The fishing boat overturned along with the fisherman. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) raised the issue with Islamabad on January 19, by issuing a note-verbale — a piece of unsigned diplomatic correspondence prepared in the third person.
Jivan Jungi, executive committee member of Pak-India Peace Forum and Democracy expressed concern at the rise in hostilities. He claimed that off late these incidents are recurring, making it difficult for poor fishermen to venture into high seas. "Three months ago, there was an incident wherein the PMSA fired at our fishermen. A fortnight ago, an Indian fishing boat was robbed. Such things did not happen in the past even during the Kargil war or Operation Parakaram," Jungi said. He added that his organisation has also written to the Pakistani high commission against such inhuman acts by Pakistani agencies.
In the note-verbale India strongly condemned the incident. "India condemns in the strongest terms such deplorable and unprofessional act by PMSA of firing at a fishing vessel and later ramming and sinking it," stated the diplomatic note. It further stated that such acts are in contravention of all international laws, conventions, humanitarian norms and practices.
The MEA asked Islamabad to "investigate the heinous act and instruct" its forces to "desist from such acts immediately".
This is first such serious incident coming to light in many years. In 2015, a fishing boat crew reported that their vessel was fired at by the Pakistani security personnel, killing a fishermen, when they were fishing in deep sea.
Since the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of two countries are close to each other, both countries had agreed not to shoot fishermen, who crossed maritime borders. The dispute on Sir Creek along the Gujarat Coast has also compounded the problems for fishermen.
According to Indian government since 2014, it has been able to secure the release of 1,749 Indian prisoners, including 1,725 fishermen along with 57 boats from Pakistan's custody.
The development coincides with reports of harassment meted to Indian diplomatic staff in Islamabad by Pakistani Agencies. On January 15, two Indians staffers from the mission were stopped and questioned by Pakistani security agencies. In December 2018, four incidents of harassment of Indian diplomats were reported, taking hostility from borders to the respective capitals.
Troubled Waters
The oceans are subject to the freedom-of-the-seas doctrine
- The Indian Ocean is third-largest in the world
- It provides fish supply for domestic consumption in Pakistan and India
- 1,725 Indian fishermen were released from Pakistan jails since 2014
- 438 fishermen from Gujarat are still languishing in Pakistani jails
- 57 Indian boats were released from Pakistan’s custody in past 5 years
- In 2015, PMSA fired at an Indian fishing boat, killing a fishermen
- In Nov 2018, PMSA fired at our fishermen
- A fortnight ago, an Indian fishing boat was robbed
- In the past, fishermen reported firing only from the Sri Lankan side, but since 2015, there have been instances of firing from Pakistani side as well
International Protocol
Freedom of-the-seas doctrine, a principle put forth in the 17th century, essentially limiting national rights and jurisdiction over the oceans to a narrow belt of sea surrounding a nation’s coastline.
UN’s work in adopting the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention
- Established freedom-of-navigation rights
- Set territorial sea boundaries 12 miles offshore
- Set exclusive economic zones up to 200 miles offshore
- Set rules for extending continental shelf rights up to 350 miles offshore
- Created the International Seabed Authority
- Created other conflict-resolution mechanisms
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Fishing boat")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}