Yemen crisis: India accepts Nawaz Sharif's offer of special plane to bring back 11 Indians

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday accepted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's offer to transport eleven Indians back home, through a special plane, who were rescued from the strife-torn Yemen along with a group of Pakistanis.

According to reports, a Pakistani navy ship carrying 11 Indians along with some Pakistani nationals from Yemen arrived in Karachi today.

Confirming the news, the Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit tweeted: “PM Nawaz Sharif offers Indian High Commission Islamabad a special aircraft to take 11 Indians (evacuated from Yemen) from Pakistan to India.” 

PM Nawaz Sharif offers Indian High Commission Islamabad a special aircraft to take 11 Indians (evacuated from Yemen) from Pakistan to India — Abdul Basit (@abdulbasitpk1) April 7, 2015

Pakistani Navy ship Aslat carrying 11 Indian nationals along with Pakistanis arrives in Karachi from Yemen.

— Paknewdelhi (@Paknewdelhi) April 7, 2015

Shortly after Sharif's offer was conveyed by the mission to the Indian government, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin took to Twitter to confirm that India has accepted Pakistan's offer.

"India accepts Pakistan's offer to fly back from Karachi by special plane 11 Indians evacuated by Pakistani naval ship from Yemen," he tweeted.

India accepts Pakistan's offer to fly back from Karachi by special plane 11 Indians evacuated by Pakistani naval ship from Yemen. — Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 7, 2015

On Saturday, a Pakistani warship had evacuated 11 Indians and other foreign nationals who were stranded at the Yemeni port of Mukalla, which was stormed by al Qaeda fighters earlier this week.

However, India has also helped pull out nationals from Bangladesh, Djibouti, Nepal, Pakistan and Uganda, so far, according to MEA.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday hailed the "seamless" operation by various government departments to evacuate Indians as also several non-Indians from Yemen.

In a series of tweets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also praised the repatriation efforts. "Salute the services of our civilian & defence officials & organisations in helping evacuate our citizens from Yemen. Continue your efforts!" he tweeted, and also, "Seamless co-operation between organisations- MEA, Navy, Air Force, Air India, Shipping, Railways & State Govts greatly helped in rescue work."

Meanwhile, the total number of Indian evacuees from war-ravaged Yemen today touched 4000 mark with nearly 700 more nationals, including 600 from Sanaa, rescued in three air sorties as government decided to end the air evacuation operation tomorrow.

We will end r air evacuation efforts from Sana'a tomorrow, 8th April. All who want to avail should leave tomorrow. Spread the word around. — Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 7, 2015

Speaking to PTI, an government official said, "While 600 were rescued by Air India, over 100 were being evacuated from Al Hudaydah by INS Turkish."

"We will end our air evacuation efforts from Sanaa tomorrow and all those who want to leave should do so by tomorrow," the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

(With Agency inputs)

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