The crew of the MV Suez, including 11 Egyptians, four Pakistanis and a Sri Lankan, received an emotional welcome when Pakistani naval ship PNS Zulfiqar carrying them docked at Karachi harbour on Thursday.

Suhail Izaz Khan, counsellor from the Indian high commission in Islamabad, received the Indian sailors in Karachi.

Sindh province governor Ishrat-ul-Ibad and other senior officials were present at the Karachi port to receive the freed sailors.

The Egyptian-owned ship was hijacked by Somali pirates in August last year. The pirates released the ship and the crew after a $2.1 million ransom was paid to them by a Pakistani organisation, the Ansar Burney Trust, named after the known human rights activist and former minister.

A ceremony was organised at the Sindh governor house late Thursday evening to welcome the freed sailors.

The governor told a news conference that the gesture to secure the release of captivated sailors was "the message of love".

"I hope India will reciprocate with love. Indian sailors have been also released," he said on the day India and Pakistani foreign secretaries began two-day talks in Islamabad focusing on peace and confidence-building measures.

Back home in India, family members of the released sailors burst into joyful tears as they watched TV to see the news reports of their release.

"I am very happy to hear the news," Madhu Sharma, wife of sailor NK Sharma, told Times Now news channel.

She said the last few months were full of uncertainties for her and her family. "I am happy now. I last spoke to my husband when he was getting on to the Pakistani ship," she said.

Shamsher Singh, whose son Satnam Singh is among the released sailors, said he had lost all hopes during the past 10 months. "After I spoke to Ansar Burney in April, my hope was rekindled. I hope to see my son alive now."