Pakistan issues statement on its citizens killed in Puntland and actions it will take

Islamabad (Caasimada Online) – The Government of Pakistan announced today, Wednesday, that efforts are underway to recover the bodies of three Pakistani citizens and other crew members who survived the MT Honour 25 ship, which had been held by pirates off the coast of Somalia for five months.

The MT Honour 25 ship, registered in Palau, was hijacked on April 21 off the coast of Puntland, while carrying 17 crew members, 10 of whom were Pakistani.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan confirmed that three of its citizens had died, who were identified as Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer, and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari.

Puntland stated that a total of five crew members aboard the ship were killed before its forces began the operation to rescue the ship.

The other two deceased individuals were citizens of India and Myanmar, according to the Puntland Maritime Police.

The agency did not specify the exact time or circumstances under which the crew members died, but stated that their deaths occurred before the Puntland forces began the operation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan expressed deep sorrow over the loss, also confirming that four crew members were injured, three of whom are Pakistani.

“The injured individuals have been taken to a nearby hospital and are receiving medical care,” the ministry said.

It added that the other crew members who survived the ship were safely taken to Bandar Beyla.

Officials from the Pakistani embassy in Djibouti have been sent to Bandar Beyla to assist in the care of Pakistani citizens and the plan to repatriate them to their country.

“Every possible effort is being made to ensure that the injured receive appropriate medical care, to facilitate the retrieval of the bodies of the deceased, and to ensure that the rescued Pakistani personnel return to their country safely,” the ministry stated.

The Puntland Maritime Police announced on Tuesday that they have fully taken control of MT Honour 25 following an operation.

“The ship is now secure and is in the hands of the Puntland Government,” the police stated in a message posted on their X account.

They also mentioned that 21 individuals suspected of piracy have been arrested, while the search for other members is still ongoing.

The operation on MT Honour 25 came days after Puntland forces regained control of the SIBU 1 vessel, which had also been hijacked by pirates.

Before the operation on Tuesday, individuals identified as crew members of MT Honour 25 informed a Pakistani charity that the group holding them had threatened to kill the hostages if security forces attempted to forcibly rescue the ship.

The Puntland administration has not yet provided detailed information on how the five crew members died or when their deaths occurred, other than stating that it happened before the start of the operation to rescue the ship.