ICG Nabs Pakistani Boat with 9 Crew in Gujarat Waters Near IMBL; Towed to Porbandar
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has taken over a Pakistani fishing boat containing nine crew members, a Pakistani fishing vessel discovered in Indian waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), the officials stated on January 15.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) January 16: The Indian Coast Guard has captured a Pakistani fishing boat containing nine crew members in Indian waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line, officials reported on Thursday.
It was spotted on a shore patrol off the Gujarat coast, and is to be taken to Porbandar for continued investigation by the authorities.
Swift Chase and Boarding Action
On the night of January 14, the Gujarat Defence PRO Wing Commander Abhishek Kumar Tiwari, an ICG vessel assigned on regular patrol in the Arabian Sea observed the Pakistani fishing boat sailing over the Indian waters near the notional IMBL. He said nine crew members were found aboard the Pakistani fishing boat, Al-Madina.
"In a swift and precise night operation, an Indian Coast Guard ship, while on patrol in the Arabian Sea, sighted a Pakistani fishing boat inside Indian waters near the notional International Maritime Boundary Line on January 14, 2026,” he said.
“When challenged, the boat attempted to flee towards the Pakistani side. However, the ICG ship intercepted and boarded the vessel in Indian waters,” Tiwari added.
Boat Towed to Porbandar for Investigation
The operation occurred close to the International Maritime Boundary Line, an area that is routinely observed by Indian maritime guards.
The arrested ship in tow is currently being towed to Porbandar for a comprehensive search and questioning of the crew by several agencies. The process will involve multiple security agencies, who are supposed to coordinate to know the basis of the incursion.
Deeper Probe by Multiple Agencies
The Indian Coast Guard said the operations are part of efforts to safeguard the country’s waters. The operation is yet another manifestation of the Indian Coast Guard’s determination to provide the most effective and decisive security on the high seas around India through its strong security patrol and strong law enforcement operations across the maritime frontiers in India.
“The operation reaffirms the ICG’s unwavering commitment to securing Bharat’s maritime frontiers through relentless vigilance and law enforcement across the nation’s maritime domain," the official statement said.
Heightened Alert After Op Sindoor
The tension between India and Pakistan remained high after Operation Sindoor, launched in the wake of the fatal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, last year which resulted in 26 deaths, mostly tourists. Since then, Indian forces have remained vigilant throughout India’s land and sea borders with Pakistan.
Last week, in several Jammu and Kashmir areas, some drones were detected along the Line of Control (LoC), leading to a meeting between the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two sides.
Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi warned Pakistan of repercussions had it embarked on any misadventure too later on. The head of national leadership in India said Operation Sindoor has so far only been halted and could be resumed on an as-needed basis.
