UP seafarer stranded on ship in Karachi for 7 months: India seeks consular access

An Indian merchant navy officer, Vineet Kishore Mishra, has been stranded on a ship in Karachi, Pakistan for over seven months. Mishra, along with five crew members, boarded the cargo vessel MV Kever in February. After traveling through Iran and Oman, the ship reached Karachi in April. Mishra, who is from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and his colleagues have been on board the ship since then.

The officer's family has appealed to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for his release and return. The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, has stated that this is a "commercial issue between the shipping company and the employees". He explained that "regarding the merchant people on the ship which is in Karachi, it is actually a matter between the owner of the ship and these employees who are on the ship. You cannot just leave the ship, so a replacement crew has to come before you leave."

Jaiswal added that the MEA has been in contact with the individuals on the ship, as well as their employer and their agent, to try and resolve the situation. They have also requested consular access from Pakistan, but emphasized that this is ultimately a commercial dispute between the shipping company and the employees.