The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Thursday intercepted a Pakistani fishing boat that had illegally entered Indian waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Arabian Sea, reinforcing India’s heightened maritime surveillance and enforcement efforts.
In a post on social media platform X, the ICG said the Pakistani fishing boat, AL-MADINA, was detected during a routine patrol on January 14. On being challenged, the vessel allegedly attempted to flee towards Pakistani waters. However, the Coast Guard successfully intercepted and boarded the boat during a night operation.
Boat Towed to Porbandar for Investigation
Upon boarding, Coast Guard personnel found nine crew members on board the Pakistani vessel. Following standard security procedures, the boat was seized and is currently being towed to Porbandar by an ICG ship for detailed inspection.
“A total of nine crew were found in the Pakistani boat, AL-MADINA. The boat is being towed to Porbandar by ICG Ship for thorough rummaging and joint interrogation by concerned agencies,” the ICG said in its official statement.
Officials said a comprehensive rummaging operation and joint interrogation will be conducted by multiple security and intelligence agencies to rule out any security threat, illegal fishing activity, or smuggling attempt.
ICG Reiterates Commitment to Maritime Security
The Coast Guard said the successful interception reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding India’s maritime interests. “The operation underscores the Indian Coast Guard’s relentless vigil and robust law enforcement across the maritime domain,” the statement added.
Illegal intrusions by foreign fishing vessels, particularly from Pakistan, are closely monitored due to concerns over smuggling, infiltration, and maritime security violations, especially along sensitive coastal regions of Gujarat.
Similar Incident Reported Last Month
The latest interception comes close on the heels of a similar incident in December 2025, when the Indian Coast Guard apprehended 11 Pakistani fishermen after their boat, Al Wali, was found inside Indian waters near Jakhau without permission.
At that time, the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO), Gujarat, said the fishermen were intercepted on December 10 within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and were brought to Jakhau Port along with their vessel for further investigation.
Focus on Regional Maritime Cooperation
These incidents come amid India’s increased emphasis on maritime security and regional cooperation. Recently, India and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime collaboration during the 22nd High-Level Meeting of the Indian Coast Guard.
The meeting was led by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani and Admiral Yoshio Saguchi, Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard. Discussions focused on enhancing coordination, information sharing, and joint efforts to ensure stability and security in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
With growing strategic importance of sea lanes and coastal security, Indian authorities continue to maintain strict vigilance along maritime boundaries to prevent violations and safeguard national interests.
