Yemen crisis: India and Pakistan rescuing victims in tandem

NEW DELHI : Moving beyond regional conflicts, the navies of India and Pakistan have extended support to each other to evacuate their citizens from strife-torn Yemen. India rescued three Pakistanis and Pakistan 11 Indians in a rare instance where the two hostile navies were on the same side. The Indian Navy has launched Operation Raahat to rescue Indians from Yemen, deploying INS Sumitra and INS Mumbai just outside the port city of Aden. India has so far rescued 1,800 of its nationals via air and with naval support.

The port city is fast losing its defence against the Houthi rebels. During the operation, the navy managed to evacuate not just Indian nationals but offered support to other Asian countries as well. “The world is a family. Nationals of 17 other countries evacuated by INS Mumbai from Yemen along with Indians,” tweeted Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.