3 Pakistanis among 5 crew lost during operation to recover ship hijacked by Somali pirates, FO confirms

The Foreign Office (FO) has mourned the loss of three Pakistani crew members during an operation to recover the hijacked MT Honour 25 oil tanker off the coast of Somalia. The victims were identified as Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer, and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari. Four crew members, including three Pakistanis, were injured in the operation and received medical care.

The surviving crew members have been safely transported to Bandar Beyla, a town in Puntland, where Pakistan's team at the Embassy in Djibouti is currently assisting them.

Puntland maritime police force carried out the operation, successfully recovering the vessel on Tuesday. The ship, which was initially hijacked in April, had 19 crew members aboard, with 10 of them being Pakistani. Following the hijacking, the crew made numerous appeals for help, citing a lack of clean water, food, and medicine. Their families also launched an international campaign to secure their release.

The FO emphasized its continued efforts to ensure proper medical care for the injured, facilitate the transportation of the deceased's bodies, and ensure the safe return of the surviving crew members. The organization is working closely with the Somali authorities and other relevant stakeholders to address the situation. Meanwhile, the Ansar Burney Trust, a non-profit human rights organization, is coordinating efforts to return the injured crew and bodies to their home countries, with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) providing support.