ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s final three survivors of an oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates are en route home on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a social‑media post, while pledging continued cooperation with international partners to fight piracy and safeguard seafarers.
The men—Imran Ali, Husain Yousuf, and Muhammad Yasin—will be the last Pakistani nationals to return from the MT Honour 25, which was seized off Somalia in April. Five crew members, including the three Pakistanis, were killed when Puntland forces retook the vessel last week after more than five months of captivity.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to working with international partners to combat piracy and ensure the safety and security of seafarers and maritime routes,” Dar said in a statement on X.
The sailors are traveling from Addis Ababa to Karachi later on Wednesday and will be reunited with their families. Pakistan’s ambassador in Ethiopia met them and arranged assistance during their stay, Dar added.
He noted that the Foreign Office and the government “made every effort to secure the safe return of all our crew members,” thanking all who supported the rescue and repatriation efforts.
“While we welcome the safe return of our people, we remain deeply saddened by the loss of three Pakistani crew members,” Dar said. “May Allah grant them eternal peace and give strength to their families.”
The incident underscores renewed concerns over piracy and armed robbery in waters around Somalia, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea—key global maritime routes. The International Maritime Organization reported 24 attempted or actual piracy and armed robbery incidents in the region during the preceding three months, with 44 seafarers held captive aboard three vessels at the time, including the Honour 25.
“These incidents are a stark reminder that the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery to seafarers has not receded and continues to warrant vigilance and support for coordinated action,” IMO Secretary‑General Arsenio Dominguez said in July.
According to Puntland authorities, the Honour 25 was carrying roughly 18,500 barrels of oil when it was hijacked.
