The MT Honour 25 rescue operation off Somalia has ended with three Pakistani nationals among five crew members reported killed by pirates before Puntland security forces freed the hijacked tanker. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has expressed condolences and said efforts are underway to facilitate the transportation of the three Pakistanis’ mortal remains back home.
Three Pakistanis Identified
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan identified the Pakistani nationals who died as Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari.
The Foreign Office said it was making every effort to facilitate the repatriation of their remains. Four other Pakistani crew members were injured and were receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital, while surviving crew members were safely brought ashore at Bandar Beyla.
Pakistan’s embassy team in Djibouti was also travelling to Bandar Beyla to assist the Pakistani nationals and coordinate with local authorities.
The government said it remained in contact with Somali authorities and other relevant stakeholders through its diplomatic mission and concerned institutions.
Tanker Freed After Months in Captivity
The MT Honour 25 was hijacked on April 21, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, which said at the time that the tanker had 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistani nationals. The vessel was seized near Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia.
Puntland authorities later announced that their forces had successfully freed the tanker and captured 16 suspected pirates during the rescue operation.
However, the operation came after a deadly confrontation. Puntland authorities said five crew members had been killed before security forces moved to rescue the vessel. The victims included three Pakistanis, one Myanmar national and one Indian national. Four other crew members were reportedly injured.
The deaths have highlighted the continuing risks faced by commercial shipping in waters around Somalia, where piracy had declined significantly after years of international maritime security efforts.
Pakistan Had Sought Diplomatic Intervention
The MT Honour 25 case had remained a diplomatic concern for Pakistan for months.
In June, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said it had maintained contact with Somali authorities and the shipowner while seeking the release and safe repatriation of the Pakistani hostages. A team from the Pakistani embassy in Djibouti had travelled to Somalia and held meetings with senior officials and other stakeholders.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister had also discussed the situation with Somalia’s foreign minister. Islamabad said humanitarian channels and negotiations were being pursued as the main means of securing the hostages’ release.
The Foreign Office had previously confirmed that the tanker was hijacked on April 21 and that 10 Pakistanis were among its 17 crew members.
Ansar Burney Trust Raises Concerns
Ansar Burney, director of the Ansar Burney Trust, also commented on the incident, saying his organisation had repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of the crew and urged authorities to take action.
He called for the injured crew members to be safely returned and for the bodies of those killed to be handed over to their families.
Among the victims was second officer Kashif Umar, who was from Karachi’s Buffer Zone and had reportedly spent about 25 years in the merchant navy.
According to the Ansar Burney Trust, Umar had said during his last conversation that food, drinking water and other essential supplies aboard the tanker were running low. His death has brought grief to his family and community, with people visiting his home to offer condolences.
A Difficult End to a Long Crisis
The rescue of the MT Honour 25 brings an end to months of uncertainty for the surviving crew members, but the deaths have left families in Pakistan facing a painful loss.
For Islamabad, the immediate priority is now the safe treatment and repatriation of the injured crew members, assistance to those who survived and the return of the deceased sailors’ remains.
The incident also underlines the dangers that seafarers can face when commercial vessels are targeted by armed groups. The tanker’s prolonged captivity and the eventual loss of five crew members demonstrate the serious consequences of a maritime hijacking.
With the MT Honour 25 now freed, attention will shift toward the recovery and repatriation process.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has said its embassy team is assisting the affected nationals while maintaining contact with Somali authorities and other stakeholders. The government will also have to coordinate arrangements for the return of the deceased sailors and continued medical support for those injured.
For the families of Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari, the focus will now be on bringing their loved ones home.
The MT Honour 25 case has ended with the tanker rescued, but the human cost of the hijacking remains significant. The deaths of five crew members, including three Pakistanis, have once again drawn attention to the dangers faced by seafarers working on international maritime routes.
