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India to chase pirates into Somali waters

by Sanjay Jha | November 21, 2008 at 03:23 am

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Buoyed with its recent success in the Gulf Aden, the Indian Navy has been authorized for "hot pursuit" of pirates into Somali waters. Indian government has given navy permission to chase Somali pirates across the country's maritime boundary under certain circumstances. Indian government has also got an informal agreement with the Somalian government, the Indian Navy is all set to take the battle right to the pirate hideouts under certain circumstances.

Finally armed with the green signal to undertake 'hot pursuit' of pirates even into the territorial waters of Somalia, India is now dispatching a much more powerful warship to the Gulf of Aden.

Sources said a 6,900-tonne Delhi-class destroyer, the largest warship in Navy's combat fleet after aircraft carrier INS Viraat, will be leaving for the Gulf of Aden in the next few days.

India plans to ''significantly augment'' its capabilities to take on pirates holding international shipping hostage with their sheer brazenness.

With the 4,000-tonne stealth frigate INS Tabar already proving its mettle by foiling two hijack attempts and sinking a pirate 'mother vessel' in the vital trade route, India has also renewed its call for greater synergy among foreign navies to battle the scourge of piracy.

Navies can act against pirates on the high seas but international laws and UN Security Council resolutions come in the way when it's a matter of chasing the brigands into some other country's territorial waters.