NEW DELHI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Ten Indians held hostage by Somali pirates after hijacking of a cargo ship have been rescued, officials said Thursday.
"I am happy to inform that 10 Indian nationals working as crew on MV AL Kausar which was hijacked by pirates have been rescued," India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj wrote on twitter.
Swaraj thanked the government of Somalia for their efforts to rescue the Indian nationals.
"We thank federal government of Somalia, Galmudug state authorities and people of Somalia for their help and cooperation," she said.
The Indian crew members were rescued by Somali troops on Wednesday near the coastal town of Hobyo.
The crew members on board the Indian cargo ship were hijacked on April 1 while on its way to Bosaso from Dubai.
Following the hijacking, the captain of the ship had informed owners as well as authorities in Dubai about the incident.
Only ten crew members were taken captive, not 11 as initially reported.
Pirates often attack cargo ships in international waters in absence of patrolling.
