Four Pakistani crew members from the hijacked tanker MT Honour 25 have been safely recovered.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the development in a statement. The four rescued sailors are expected to arrive in Karachi on October 3.
Dar identified them as Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani. The Pakistani Crew Members were among 17 people aboard the tanker when it was hijacked.
Four Pakistani Sailors Safely Recovered
According to Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Office worked continuously to secure the sailors’ recovery.
Pakistan’s Embassy in Djibouti was also involved in efforts to bring them home safely. The tanker was hijacked off the Somali coast in April.
There were 17 crew members aboard the vessel, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
The incident left the crew in captivity for several months. European maritime authorities said Puntland forces recovered the vessel on September 29.
The recovery ended months of captivity for the tanker and surviving crew members. The four rescued Pakistani Crew Members will now travel back to Pakistan.
Their arrival in Karachi is scheduled for October 3.
Three Pakistani Sailors Killed
Dar also confirmed the deaths of three Pakistani sailors connected with the incident. They were identified as Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari.
Their remains are being repatriated to Pakistan. Dar expressed condolences to the families of the deceased sailors.
He said authorities were completing the required legal and administrative procedures.The government aims to return their remains to Pakistan as soon as possible.
According to the available information, five crew members died during the operation to recover the tanker.
Three of those who died were Pakistani nationals.
Government Works on Repatriation
The recovery of the four Pakistani Crew Members follows months of diplomatic efforts after the tanker was hijacked.
Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Djibouti remained involved in coordinating their recovery. Authorities are now focusing on bringing the surviving sailors home and repatriating the deceased crew members.
The four rescued Pakistanis are scheduled to reach Karachi on October 3.
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Their return will mark the end of months of captivity following the hijacking of MT Honour 25 off Somalia.
