A breakthrough has emerged for the six Indian sailors who have found themselves stranded aboard a cargo vessel at the Karachi port in Pakistan for nearly seven months. Following formal diplomatic requests from New Delhi, Pakistani authorities have finally agreed to grant Indian officials access to meet these stranded crew members. Representatives from the Indian High Commission will soon board the ship to check on the sailors and assess their living conditions firsthand. All of these crew members have been confined to the vessel since April 17, 2026.
According to senior officials within Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrangements are currently being finalized for the Indian diplomats to meet the crew aboard the cargo ship docked at berth number 21 in the West Wharf of the Karachi port. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously stated that it formally sought assistance from Pakistan to resolve this predicament. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jayewall noted that the government remains in continuous contact with Pakistani authorities, the stranded sailors, and the operating shipping company to find a way out of the crisis.
Why the Indian sailors have been stuck for months
The group of six Indian nationals includes a senior merchant navy officer who hails from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. They were all employed on a cargo ship operated by the Iran-based KEVER Shipping Company. Business and legal disputes erupted between the vessel operating company and port authorities in Karachi, prompting the port administration to detain the ship. Reports indicate that port officials also confiscated the passports of the sailors, stripping them of any ability to disembark and travel back to their homes in India.
Amid this ongoing standoff, the standard tenure and working hours of the sailors came to an end, yet they remained trapped on board. Under international maritime regulations, crew members are legally barred from abandoning a vessel until a replacement crew arrives to take over operational responsibility. Consequently, the deployment of fresh personnel is mandatory. Although a process to dispatch six replacement sailors was initiated late last month, it stalled because the port administration withheld the necessary clearances.
Severe communication barriers with families back home
The hardships faced by these Indian sailors extend far beyond their inability to return home. Power supply on the ship remains erratic, and mobile network connectivity is severely restricted. The circumstances are such that the sailors can manage to speak with their families only once every couple of weeks. Their relatives in India have been enduring continuous anxiety while awaiting their return, with the prolonged communication blackouts escalating their fears.
With Pakistan's newfound consent, the process to address the situation is expected to move forward. Indian High Commission officials will visit the Karachi port to interact directly with all six sailors. They will inspect their health parameters, living quarters, and other essential requirements. Subsequently, efforts will be made to complete the necessary paperwork required to facilitate their repatriation, a step that heavily depends on the deployment of replacement crew members and final approvals from the port authorities.
