3 Pakistanis among 5 crew killed in operation to recover hijacked vessel MT Honour 25: FO

Three Pakistani crew members perished during an operation to retrieve the hijacked ship MT Honour 25, according to the Foreign Office on Wednesday. The FO identified the victims as Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer, and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari. In April, pirates had boarded an oil tanker near Somalia's coast, capturing a vessel carrying at least ten Pakistani crew members, leading to urgent rescue and diplomatic initiatives by Pakistani authorities.

The Foreign Office expressed heartfelt condolences to the affected families, and conveyed Pakistan's prayers for the departed and comfort for the bereaved. Four crew members, including three Pakistanis, sustained injuries; they have been admitted to a local hospital for medical attention. The remaining crew members have been safely escorted to Bandar Beyla.

The FO stated that Pakistan's Embassy in Djibouti is en route to Bandar Beyla to provide support to the injured and stranded Pakistani nationals. The government, via its Mission and relevant authorities, maintains close communication with Somali authorities and other parties involved. On Tuesday, Puntland state television reported that Somalia's Puntland security forces had successfully rescued the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged tanker carrying petroleum products, which had been seized by Somali pirates in April along with at least ten Pakistani crew members among the 17 on board.