The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that crew members of a seized Iranian vessel have been evacuated to Pakistan and will be handed over to Iran today under what it described as a “confidence-building measure” facilitated by the United States (US).
In a statement posted on X, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, “As a confidence-building measure by the United States of America, twenty-two crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship, ‘MV Touska’, have been evacuated to Pakistan”.
He said that the crew members were flown to Pakistan last night and will be transferred to Iran today.
“The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs,” the spokesperson said, adding that the process is being coordinated “in tandem with the support of both the Iranian and US sides”.
He further stated that Pakistan “will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security”.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar, in a post on X, said he was “pleased to announce that twenty-two crew members from the seized Iranian container vessel, ‘MV Touska’, have been safely evacuated to Pakistan”.
“The individuals were safely flown in Pakistan last night and will be transferred to Iran today,” he wrote. He added that the ship is also being returned to Pakistani territorial waters for handover to its original owners after necessary repairs.
“These actions are being coordinated with the support of both the Iranian and the US authorities and surely constitute an important confidence-building measure,” Dar said.
He added that Pakistan “expresses its appreciation to the United States and Iran” and remains committed to facilitating dialogue, diplomacy and mediation for regional peace and security.
