ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has facilitated the transfer of 22 crew members from the Iranian container vessel MV Touska, who were handed over by the United States as a goodwill gesture, the Foreign Office confirmed on Monday.
According to spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, the crew arrived in Pakistan overnight and are set to be returned to Iranian authorities. He added that arrangements are underway to move the vessel into Pakistani territorial waters, where it will undergo necessary repairs before being sent back to its owners.
The Foreign Office emphasized that the process is being carried out in coordination with both Iranian and US officials. It also noted that Pakistan supports such confidence-building steps and remains committed to encouraging dialogue and diplomacy to promote regional peace.
A representative of the US Central Command, Captain Tim Hawkins, confirmed the transfer, stating that US forces had completed the handover of the 22 crew members to Pakistan for repatriation. He also mentioned that six additional individuals linked to the ship had been transferred earlier to another country in the region. Iranian media later clarified that those individuals were relatives of some crew members.
The vessel had been intercepted following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz on April 19, when, according to US President Donald Trump, it failed to comply with instructions to change course. It was subsequently boarded and seized in the Gulf of Oman during a period of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Separately, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to discuss the regional situation and ongoing diplomatic efforts. The Iranian side acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive engagement, while Dar reiterated Islamabad’s stance that peaceful dialogue remains the only sustainable path toward stability.
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