Indian Coast Guard seizes Pakistani boat with nine crew for illegal entry into Indian waters

Pakistani vessel intercepted in the Arabian Sea as India remains on high maritime alert following Operation Sindoor

January 15, 2026

Incident amid heightened India–Pakistan security tensions

Crew attempted to flee before seizure

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has seized a Pakistani boat with nine crew members after it attempted to illegally enter Indian waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line, officials said on Thursday. The interception took place on January 14 in the Arabian Sea, following which the vessel was detained and is now being escorted to Porbandar for further investigation.

According to officials, the Pakistani boat was challenged while operating inside Indian waters, after which the crew attempted to flee. However, the Coast Guard successfully intercepted and seized the vessel. In a statement, the ICG said the boat is being towed to Porbandar for thorough rummaging and joint interrogation by concerned agencies, reaffirming its commitment to securing India’s maritime frontiers through constant vigilance and enforcement.

This is the second such incident in recent weeks. In December last year, the Coast Guard had detained another Pakistani fishing boat operating illegally within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), along with its 11 crew members, who were later handed over to Gujarat’s Jakhau Marine Police.

The latest interception comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, launched in response to last year’s Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Since then, Indian security forces have remained on high alert along land and sea borders. Recent drone sightings along the Line of Control and warnings from Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi have further underlined India’s readiness to respond to any misadventure.

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