Indian navy has deployed task force along its west coast

The Navy said that it has "substantially enhanced maritime surveillance efforts" and that recent incidents including the drone attack on commercial vessel MV Chem Pluto around 220 nautical miles southwest of Porbandar indicated a shift in maritime incidents closer to India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ

The Navy said the overall situation is being closely monitored in coordination with national maritime agencies and asserted that it remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region.

"Task Groups comprising destroyers and frigates have been deployed to undertake Maritime security operations and render assistance to merchant vessels in case of any incident," it said.

Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, was the target of a drone attack off India's west coast on December 23 that triggered security concerns in New Delhi as it came amid the Iran-backed Houthi militants launching strikes on several commercial ships in the Red Sea. Besides MV Chem Pluto, another commercial oil tanker that was on the way to India came under a suspected drone strike in southern Red Sea on the same day. The vessel had a team of 25 Indian crew.

"The last few weeks have witnessed increased maritime security incidents on merchant vessels transiting through international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Central/ North Arabian Sea," the Navy said.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it is carefully evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in that region. At the same time, he said India is not part of any multilateral initiative or operation in and around the Red Sea.

India values the free movement of commercial shipping, which is one of the fundamental principles underpinning global commerce," Bagchi said. "We are carefully evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in that region. Our defense forces are taking necessary measures in this regard," he said.