4 Pakistani crew members from hijacked tanker retrieved off Somalia, Dar says

Four Pakistani crew members from the hijacked tanker MT Honour 25 have been safely retrieved and will arrive in Karachi on Oct. 3, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Friday. Pirates seized the vessel off Somalia in April. Dar credited sustained diplomatic efforts by Pakistan.

Who are the Pakistani crew members retrieved from the hijacked tanker?

The four retrieved crew members are Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani. Three other Pakistani crew members, Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari, were killed. Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain remain aboard with the captain.

What did Ishaq Dar say about the bodies and the remaining crew?

In a statement posted on X, Dar said the bodies of the three Pakistani crew members killed in the incident were being repatriated to Pakistan. “All necessary legal and other formalities are being fast-tracked” to expedite the process, he said. He also expressed condolences to the families.

Dar said the three remaining Pakistani crew members are still aboard the vessel along with the captain. Pakistan is coordinating with friendly countries to facilitate their safe extraction and earliest possible return, he added.

Dar said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, remained fully seized of the matter. He said the ministry was making every effort to secure the return of all Pakistani nationals and repatriate the bodies of those who died. The government would continue extending all possible support to the affected families, he added.

How was the MT Honour 25 recovered from Somali pirates?

Puntland security forces recovered the Palau-flagged tanker from Somali pirates on Tuesday, more than five months after it was seized off Puntland. Five crew members, including three Pakistanis, were killed during the operation to retake the vessel, according to Somali authorities and Pakistan's Foreign Office. Puntland authorities said their forces secured the vessel and detained suspected pirates.

The recovery has drawn renewed attention to piracy off Somalia.

Did Somali pirates hijack the MT Honour 25?

Armed pirates seized the tanker on April 21, about 30 nautical miles off Puntland's coast. It was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, and 10 Pakistani crew members were among those aboard. The pirates demanded a $3 million ransom for the crew's release.

The Ansar Burney Trust said it received the demand through WhatsApp on May 18 from the group's leader. That was nearly four weeks after the hijacking.

What conditions did the crew face during captivity?

Relatives and rights groups reported dire conditions during the months of captivity. Crew members faced severe shortages of clean drinking water and were reportedly forced to survive on contaminated tank water and one meal of boiled rice a day. Several hostages were also said to have suffered stress-related illnesses and lacked access to essential medication.

Families of the Pakistani crew members in Karachi staged repeated demonstrations, urging authorities to intensify diplomatic and rescue efforts. A previously released video showed all 17 crew members appearing visibly distressed. Children of some crew members also experienced anxiety and panic attacks following the hijacking.