New Delhi, May 14: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday strongly condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged cargo vessel off the coast of Oman, describing the incident as “unacceptable” and expressing concern over continued attacks on commercial shipping and civilian mariners in the region.

According to reports, the Gujarat-owned cargo ship MSV Haji Ali sank after it was struck by what preliminary reports described as a drone or missile-like projectile on May 13 while sailing through Omani waters.

The vessel was travelling from Berbera Port in Somalia to Sharjah when the incident occurred.

In an official statement, the MEA said, “The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted.”

The Ministry also confirmed that all Indian crew members onboard the vessel were safe and thanked the Omani authorities for carrying out the rescue operation promptly.

“India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the statement added.

Teams from the Oman Coast Guard launched a swift rescue operation and safely evacuated all 14 crew members despite the ship catching fire after the strike, according to several local media outlets.

The vessel reportedly became stranded off the Omani coast at around 3:30 a.m. (local time), according to the ship’s owner, Sultan Ahmed Ansar, who is a resident of Dwarka in Gujarat.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region and renewed concerns over the safety of international maritime routes and commercial vessels operating in West Asian waters.

The crisis in West Asia erupted following the US-Israel joint strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed during these strikes.

Tehran retaliated with a series of attacks against Israel and US military bases in the Gulf nations. This triggered a wider crisis in the Gulf region as Iran announced blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran, May 11: Iran’s latest draft proposal for talks with the United States calls for an immediate cessation of conflict on all fronts, a guarantee for no more “aggression” against Iran, and the lifting of US sanctions and naval blockade, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

“The proposal highlights the need to immediately end the war, provide guarantees for the non-repetition of the aggression against Iran, and certain other issues within a political agreement,” Tasnim cited an informed source as saying.

It also demands a 30-day window for rescinding US sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and the release of Iran’s frozen assets following the preliminary agreement, it reported.

The United States and Israel conducted joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28, killing Iran’s then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior Iranian officials and civilians. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US interests in the region and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, Xinhua news agency reported.

A ceasefire between the warring parties took effect on April 8, which was followed by talks between Iranian and US delegations in Pakistan’s Islamabad on April 11 and 12 that ended without an agreement. Later, the United States imposed its own blockade on the strait.

Over the past weeks, the two sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict through Pakistan.

Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that Iran’s response to the latest US proposal was sent to Pakistan. On Sunday evening, US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social that the response is “totally unacceptable.”

“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social, without elaborating.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran needs to “make it clear” that they do not seek a nuclear weapon, which Washington sees as crucial to a peace deal.

New Delhi, May 8: For Pakistan, ‘Operation Sindoor’ resulted in a loss of face. After terror infrastructure was hit hard by the Indian armed forces who were avenging the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan set out a fake narrative of emerging victorious.

Rallies and processions were taken out to create an impression that the Pakistan Army had hit back and won the battle. While the perception was created, the reality was something different.

An official said that events were strategically planned across Pakistan to commemorate fake victory. On the other hand, social media handles run by Pakistanis worked overtime to put out false narratives.

Following the conclusion of ‘Operation Sindoor’, Pakistan’s Army chief instructed the Shehbaz Sharif government to release Rs 500 crore. This money was then distributed evenly to federal governments, business and religious groups. All were asked to organise massive rallies across Pakistan. The programme mandate by the Pakistan Army was titled ‘Ashra-e-Tashakur Fateh-E-Muneeb,’ which means ten days of gratitude for a decisive victory.

To cement the fake claim further, Asim Munir even pressured the Sharif government to make him Field Marshal.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that while these rallies took place on a grand scale for ten days, something more serious was brewing within. Some of the rallies even focussed on thanking the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba for the so-called victory.

However, within the ranks of these two terror groups something serious was simmering. Both Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar had started to question the Pakistan Army and the ISI. They wanted to know what happened to the guarantees and protection that they had been assured. These groups have been operating with ease only due to the funds and protection that the Army and the ISI offer them.

During ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Jaish-e-Mohammad lost its Bahawalpur headquarters. Its chief Masood Azhar even lost most of his family members and several other cadres. The Muridke camp, which is the Lashkar-e-Tayiba’s primary training facility was blown to pieces during the Indian operation.

Both these terror groups, which have wrecked havoc in India, had not witnessed such a huge hit. There have been encounters and terrorists have been killed on Indian soil. However never have they been struck so hard and that, too, deep inside Pakistan.

Another official said that the impression that the Pakistan establishment sought to create in the aftermath of the operation worked among a few people, but clearly their proxies were not impressed. They knew what they had lost and the fact that the Army could not even defend them is what left them completely disgruntled. The official also said that many cadres, too, had started questioning their own leadership.

Officials say that all these factors led to rifts within these two terror groups and this explains why they are taking so long to rebuild.

During the numerous processions, the Army insisted that the cadres of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad should take part. Many of them did, but in their minds, they knew what the reality was. In this desperation to show that Pakistan was victorious, the Army ended up showcasing to the world that globally banned terror groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba are welcome within the ecosystem of the establishment, the official added.

Pakistan watchers point out that it was nothing but desperation on part of the Army. It had to indulge in this circus and claim a false victory. In reality, the Pakistan Army and its chief were the hardest hit thanks to ‘Operation Sindoor’, the experts also point out.