‘We Don’t Want to Serve Them Biryani’: The Strange Story of a Sunken Pakistani Fishing Boat

The Indian Coast Guard denies sinking a Pakistani fishing vessel.

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459703884crop

On the night of Dec. 31, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted a Pakistani fishing boat off the country’s western coast. The boat fled, a Coast Guard vessel gave chase, and eventually the fishing boat’s crew “set the boat on fire, which resulted in explosion and major fire,” according to a vague statement issued by the Coast Guard. The boat, which Indian authorities claimed carried explosives and was planning an “illicit transaction,” was destroyed and four people on board died.

On the night of Dec. 31, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted a Pakistani fishing boat off the country’s western coast. The boat fled, a Coast Guard vessel gave chase, and eventually the fishing boat’s crew “set the boat on fire, which resulted in explosion and major fire,” according to a vague statement issued by the Coast Guard. The boat, which Indian authorities claimed carried explosives and was planning an “illicit transaction,” was destroyed and four people on board died.

Immediately, the Indian Express began casting doubt on that vague government account. Citing highly placed government sources, the paper reported that intelligence indicated that the boat was in fact not carrying terrorists but may in fact only have been ferrying ordinary diesel and liquor smugglers. The paper suggested that the Coast Guard may have used “disproportionate force” in stopping the fishing boat.

On Wednesday, the story took a turn for the bizarre when the Indian Express published video footage of a senior Coast Guard official appearing to suggest that the boat was set on fire not by the crew but as a result of a Coast Guard vessel firing upon it. “I hope you remember December 31 night. We blew off the Pakistan.” Deputy Inspector General of the Coast Guard B.K. Loshali says (in less than perfect English) in the video. “I was there … and I told at night, blow the boat off. We don’t want to serve them biryani.”

Biryani, of course, is an Indian rice dish.

Loshali’s strange comments are far from conclusive in establishing that Indian forces in fact sunk the Pakistani fishing vessel, and on Wednesday, he denied that he had made any such implication. “I reiterate that the boat set herself on fire and was not sunk by the coast guard,” Loshali told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. “However, I had made a statement that anti-national elements do not need to be served biryani and should be handled as per law of the land.”

Either way — whether just one Coast Guard officer’s selfish feelings about biryani or an outright scandal involving excessive force — this strange story isn’t likely to improve India and Pakistan’s strained relationship. On Wednesday, Pakistan demanded an explanation for how the boat sank.

In recent months, the two countries have exchanged heavy fire along a disputed border area. Efforts to resume peace talks have so far stalled.

Maybe sharing some biryani would help.

ANNA ZIEMINSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Twitter: @EliasGroll

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