Washington: Pirate activities have extended to as far as the waters off the coast of India, making it difficult for patrolling and effective action, a US official has said.
"Pirate activity has even extended as far as the waters off the coast of India. This increase makes it difficult for naval or law enforcement ships and other assets to reach the scene of a pirate attack quickly enough to disrupt an ongoing attack. There is just too much water to patrol," said the Assistant Secretary of State, Andrew Shapiro.
In his remarks on 'Piracy Off the Horn of Africa' at the Center for American Progress- an eminent American think-tank, Shapiro said "in the cat and mouse game" that is modern day piracy, the international community have responded as well.
"Since discovering the use of mother-ships, international navies now seek to identify and interdict mother-ships when possible. These are very delicate engagements, however.
"With hostages on board and with mother-ships sometimes capable of travelling thousands of miles, interdiction and contested boardings of mother-ships by international navies are at times not possible. Yet we are making progress in isolating these vessels when discovered and boarding when necessary," he said.
Shapiro said the issue of piracy has become a significant component of America's diplomatic engagement with countries.
"It is a shared challenge that many countries have an interest in seeing addressed. The issue, therefore, has an ancillary diplomatic benefit, as it often proves to be a useful subject for us to discuss with countries with which we are looking to expand our security relationship," he said.
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