India seeks Pakistan's help to bring home 6 sailors stranded at Karachi port for 7 months

India has approached Pakistan for assistance in bringing home six Indian seafarers stranded aboard a vessel at Karachi port for nearly seven months, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was in contact with the stranded sailors, their employer and the shipping company's agent to resolve the matter, which primarily involved a commercial dispute.

The six crew members have reportedly been stranded since April 17, 2026, after their vessel became caught in a dispute involving its shipping company and Karachi port authorities.

"It is actually a matter between the owner of the ship and the employees who are on the ship. You cannot just leave the ship. A replacement crew has to come before you leave," Jaiswal said.

He added that the government was engaging with all parties to facilitate a resolution.

"We have also made a consular request to the Pakistani side. But essentially, it is a commercial issue between the shipping company and the employees," the spokesperson said.

𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹

According to the family of chief officer Vineet Kishore Mishra, a Merchant Navy officer from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, the six Indian seafarers have remained aboard the vessel since it arrived in Karachi on April 17.

Mishra had joined Iran-based KEVER Shipping Company on February 25 and subsequently travelled aboard one of its vessels from Oman to Karachi.

His family alleged that the ship became embroiled in a dispute between the shipping company and Karachi port authorities after reaching Pakistan.

What began as a commercial disagreement subsequently left the Indian crew unable to leave the vessel or return home.

Relatives claimed that the sailors' passports had been seized and the vessel's electricity supply disconnected, making their living conditions increasingly difficult.

They also alleged that communication with the stranded crew had become severely restricted, with family members sometimes able to speak to them only once in approximately 15 days.

Mishra's family said his employment contract had expired, but he remained unable to formally sign off from the vessel.

𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The families of the stranded sailors have appealed to the Indian government to secure their safe return, saying the crew members have been left in uncertainty for months.

Mishra's relatives said they had approached the Indian diplomatic mission in Pakistan and sought assistance from the MEA.

They also contacted the Prime Minister, President and elected representatives, including their local MLA and MP, requesting intervention.

Although the families said they had received assurances that the matter was being examined, the sailors remained aboard the vessel without a confirmed date for their return.

𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲

Explaining the complications, Jaiswal said seafarers could not simply abandon a vessel while it remained in port, as a replacement crew had to be arranged before the existing crew members could formally leave.

The requirement has become a central obstacle to resolving the prolonged situation.

The MEA maintained that it was continuing discussions with the shipping company, its agent and the stranded sailors while pursuing the matter with Pakistani authorities through consular channels.

However, no timeline has been announced for the crew members' return to India.