New Delhi: India Tuesday welcomed the
release of six of its sailors held captive by Somali pirates
on board a hijacked merchant vessel.
"We are happy they have been released and the ship is
now moving out," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told
reporters here.
He, however, parried a question about the role of
Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney in securing the release
of the 22 crew members, saying, "Let us not get into a
speculative analysis on who is behind it and who is provoking
it".
Somali pirates had released the crew members after
ransom was paid to them, Burney had said yesterday.
The pirates had taken the crew members, including
Pakistanis, Egyptians and a Sri Lankan, hostage after
capturing the vessel MV Suez last year.
Burney, who negotiated with the pirates and raised
money through donations, said in Karachi that all hostages had
been freed.
He said they would reach their homes in a few days as
arrangements are being made for their repatriation.
PTI
