Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appreciated the 'humanitarian gesture' of Pakistan for evacuating Indians from Yemen and thanked his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
He was also glad that India had been able to help many countries in evacuation efforts from Yemen.
PM Modi posted on micro-blogging website Twitter: “I welcome our 11 citizens who've returned from Yemen with assistance from Pakistan. Thank you PM Nawaz Sharif for your humanitarian gesture.”
In another post he wrote: “Service to humanity knows no borders. Glad we helped many countries in evacuation from Yemen,” and added, “The help India extended included help to our neighbours Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.”
I welcome our 11 citizens who've returned from Yemen with assistance from Pakistan. Thank you PM Nawaz Sharif for your humanitarian gesture.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 8, 2015
Service to humanity knows no borders. Glad we helped many countries in evacuation from Yemen.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 8, 2015
The help India extended included help to our neighbours Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan & Sri Lanka.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 8, 2015
Earlier, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had also appreciated Pakistan's gesture of evacuating 11 of its nationals from strif-torn Yemen and flying them to India by a special aircraft.
"It was a very positive, good, generous gesture," Jaishankar told reporters when asked to comment on the evacuation of Indians by Pakistan, as per PTI.
"Pakistan took great trouble and we need to appreciate that," he added.
Jaishankar said the crisis like in Yemen provides an opportunity for countries to work together as noted that India too had evacuated 409 nationals of 32 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The Indians were among 182 people, including 36 foreigners, who were brought to Pakistan's port city of Karachi yesterday after being evacuated from Al Mukallah in Yemen. After their arrival in Karachi yesterday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had offered a special plan to ferry them here, an offer which was accepted by India.
They arrived here today by a special plane of Pakistan Air Force.
Pakistan High Commission Abdul Basit was at the airport to welcome the Indian nationals. Joint Secretary in External Affairs Ministry responsible for States division Gopal Baglay was also present to receive them.
"High Commissioner Basit received them at New Delhi International airport and presented them flowers/souvenir," a statement from the Pakistan High Commission said.
Meanwhile, India today decided to extend air evacuation from Yemen till tomorrow following a rescue request by a group of 140 nurses even as it pulled out another 450 people from the war-ravaged country, taking the total number of evacuees to 4500. Nearly 450 people were rescued by Air India from Sanaa and INS Sumitra was in stand-by near Al Hudaydah to evacuate more nationals, if need be, officials said.
Announcing the extension in air evacuation days, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said "responding to needs of 140 nurses India extends air evacuation from Yemen by a day. Flights planned for tomorrow also, subject to clearances." Yesterday, he had said that air evacuation will end today.
India had also received requests from 26 countries, including the US, Bangladesh and Iraq, for assistance in evacuating their nationals from the strife-torn country. While Pakistan had not sought help for the evacuation of its nationals, India during the operation also rescued Pakistani nationals.The evacuees were being taken to Djibouti from where they will fly back to India in Indian Air Force aircraft.
Yemen has been witnessing fierce battle between Saudi-led coalition and Shiite rebels, who have battled their way into various cities Yemen including in the former stronghold of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who has fled overseas.
(With PTI inputs)
