Eight Iranian fishermen who were rescued at sea have been handed over by Pakistan to the Iranian Consulate General in Karachi and will return home on Monday, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Handover to Iranian Consulate
Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) handed over a group of eight Iranian fishermen to a team from the Iranian Consulate General in Karachi on Sunday, according to IRNA. The fishermen had been rescued at sea earlier this month by the British vessel MMA Valour.
The PMSA said in a statement on Sunday that it had undertaken the necessary reception, documentation, medical screening, and coordination related to the Iranian fishermen for onward repatriation.
Repatriation via Gabd-Rimdan Border
“The Iranian fishermen will return to Iran via the Gabd-Rimdan land border on Monday,” IRNA reported. The repatriation operation comes as Pakistan mediated talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland, aimed at reaching a lasting agreement following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding last week.
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said earlier this month that Islamabad was facilitating the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals, including eight fishermen and 22 crew members, who were rescued at sea by US and British authorities.
Previous Repatriation Efforts
In May, Pakistan facilitated the repatriation of 22 Iranian sailors from Islamabad to Tehran after their vessels were seized by the US near Singaporean waters. This latest handover underscores Pakistan's ongoing role in mediating between Iran and the US.
