Three remaining Pakistani crew members freed from Somali pirate captivity to return home

Three remaining Pakistani crew members of the hijacked oil tanker MT Honor 25 are due to return to Karachi from Addis Ababa on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said.

Their return completes the repatriation of survivors after a months-long captivity by Somali pirates.

Who are the three remaining Pakistani crew members of MT Honor 25?

Ishaq Dar identified the three men as Imran Ali, Husain Yousuf and Muhammad Yasin. They were expected to be reunited with their families later on Wednesday.

Their arrival means all surviving Pakistani crew members from the tanker are expected to be reunited with their families.

What did Ishaq Dar say about the crew's return?

Dar said Pakistan's ambassador in Addis Ababa had met the three remaining crew members and ensured they received the necessary facilities and assistance during their stay in the Ethiopian capital. He said the Foreign Office and the government had worked to secure the safe return of all Pakistani crew members, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“While we welcome the safe return of our people, we remain deeply saddened by the loss of three Pakistani crew members,” Dar said in a post on X, expressing condolences to the families of those killed. He also thanked those involved in the repatriation effort and said Pakistan would continue working with international partners to combat piracy and protect seafarers and maritime routes.

How was MT Honor 25 hijacked and recovered?

The Palau-flagged tanker was seized on 21 April, about 30 nautical miles off Puntland, while carrying around 18,500 barrels of oil. It had 19 crew members: 10 Pakistanis, seven Indonesians, one Indian and one Sri Lankan. The pirates reportedly demanded a ransom of about $3 million for the crew's release, but months passed without a reported breakthrough in negotiations.

Puntland maritime forces recovered the vessel on 29 September and detained suspected pirates, after a five-month captivity, according to Somali and Pakistani authorities. Somali authorities said five crew members were killed during the operation, while efforts were launched to account for those who remained unaccounted for. Several others were injured.

Pakistan's Foreign Office identified the Pakistani victims as Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari. Four injured Pakistani crew members returned to Karachi on Sunday along with the remains of the three men killed during the operation.

What conditions did the MT Honor 25 crew face in captivity?

The crew endured harsh conditions during their captivity, according to relatives and rights groups. They reported shortages of drinking water, with some hostages allegedly forced to use contaminated tank water and survive on as little as one meal of boiled rice a day. Several crew members were also reported to have suffered stress-related illnesses and lacked access to essential medication.

A video released during the captivity showed 17 crew members appearing distressed, while relatives said children of some hostages suffered anxiety and panic attacks. The prolonged captivity prompted repeated protests by relatives in Karachi, who urged the government to step up diplomatic efforts to secure the crew's release.

Why was ownership of MT Honor 25 unclear?

The case was further complicated by uncertainty over the ownership of the vessel.

The crew were described as victims of an “ownership crisis”, with the man initially believed to own the tanker later understood to have acted as an intermediary who had recruited the crew.