A Pakistani fishing boat laden with explosives bound for India blew up, killing all four people on board, after the Indian Coast Guard tried to stop and search it, the Indian government said on Friday.

It was not possible to independently verify the Indian account. In a first reaction, Pakistan's foreign ministry said it was unclear whether the incident had happened at all.

Indian intelligence said the crew was planning "an illicit transaction" when the vessel was intercepted on New Year's Eve in the Arabian Sea, 365 km (225 miles) off India's western coast, according to a government statement.