Two days after the Indian Navy was compelled to repulse pirate attacks on a Saudi and an Indian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden, India has put forward a proposal asking for a ‘unified command’ UN peace-keeping force under, in order to prevent the increasing number of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia. 
  
Just recently, the Indian Navy thwarted pirates in their attempt to capture an Indian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The ship, M V Jag Arnav, a 38,265-tonne bulk carrier, owned by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping company, raised an alarm, catching the attention of the Indian Naval warship - INS Tabar, which just happened to be on patrol in the waters of the Gulf of Aden. 
  
Asking the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at its 101st council meeting in London, to move UN for establishing a peace-keeping force, the Indian delegation said while the Indian Navy has begun coordinating with other navies in the Gulf of Aden, including US and European naval task forces, a formal UN peace-keeping force could go a long way in thwarting piracy along this vital trade route. 
  
Pirates operating mainly from Somali ports of Eyl and Hobyo, have created havoc for international shipping in the region. Since January, they have attacked 83 ships and hijacked 33 from the region. 
  
Asking the IMO to take urgent steps for providing security and assistance to international shipping regardless of the flag they were flying or the nationality of the seaman, the Indian delegation’s call found much support amongst other member countries. 
  
Indian warships are already patrolling the Gulf of Aden to protect Indian merchant vessels sailing from Salalah (Oman) to Aden (Yemen). A decision that the Indian government took after Somali pirates hijacked Japanese-owned Stolt Valor in September. However, the fate of the 18 Indians on board Stolt Valor, is still uncertain as the pirates demand for a $2.5million to free them, remains unfulfilled.