Efforts underway to repatriate remains of 3 Pakistanis killed while recovering hijacked tanker from Somali pirates: PMO

Efforts underway to repatriate remains of 3 Pakistanis killed while recovering hijacked tanker from Somali pirates: PMO.

Key points

• News Desk Published October 3, 2026 Updated October 3, 2026 08: 45pm.
• The MT Honour 25 had been hijacked by Somali pirates on April 21, around 30 nautical miles off Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region.
• The remains had been taken to Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, with Ethiopian Airlines reviewing the next steps for transferring the bodies.
• On Sept 29, Somali maritime police recovered the Palau-flagged oil tanker against the backdrop of reports of casualties among the crew.
• According to a statement by the PMO issued on Saturday, arrangements were being created to repatriate the sailors' remains as per the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

News Desk Published October 3, 2026 Updated October 3, 2026 08: 45pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

According to The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday, arrangements were underway to repatriate the remains of three Pakistani sailors, who were killed during an operation earlier this week to recover a hijacked oil tanker off the coast of Somalia.

For context, the maritime police force of Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland remarked on Tuesday that it had recovered the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker with 19 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistanis.

For context, the Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday that three Pakistanis had died and three others were injured during the operation, afterwards identifying the deceased as Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari.

Meanwhile, the remains had been taken to Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, with Ethiopian Airlines reviewing the next steps for transferring the bodies.

"After this, final approval will be granted for their departure on a flight bound for Karachi. In accordance with the prime minister's instructions, the relevant authorities are in continuous contact to expedite the repatriation process, " the statement read.

It continued that the premier had assured of "all possible assistance" in bringing the deceased sailors home.

PM Shehbaz has confirmed a relief package worth Rs12.5 million for the deceased sailors' families, the PMO remarked yesterday.

For context, the prime minister confirmed financial backing for the families of the deceased, including free housing and free education for their children. The PMO continued that the premier spoke with Syed Kashif Umer's son, Azhan Kashif, on the phone to extend his condolences and express his grief.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar remarked that four of the 10 Pakistani crew members had been "safely retrieved" and were scheduled to arrive in Karachi today.

For context, the four crew members – Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani – were retrieved after "sustained efforts" by FO and Pakistan's embassy in Djibouti, Dar stated. Months with no progress.

In practice, the MT Honour 25 had been hijacked by Somali pirates on April 21, around 30 nautical miles off Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region. Apart from Pakistanis, the vessel's crew additionally included seven Indonesians, an Indian and a Sri Lankan.

For around five months, there had been no progress either in negotiations or in the payment of the ransom, remarked to be around $3 million, for the recovery of the hostages, despite worries abounding regarding their declining health.

Since the hijacking, the crew created a number of emotional videos and audio appeals, reporting that they ran out of clean water, food and medicine.

For its part, FO maintained that it remained "actively engaged" to secure the release of the sailors.

"The naval and ground units of the Puntland Maritime Police Force conducted a planned operation in the Dharin-Bar area of Bandar Beyla district, " the maritime police had remarked in its initial statement.

In another statement, it confirmed that the operation had concluded and the recovered vessel was "now safe and under the Puntland government's control".

While operations to locate the remaining members continue, during the operation, it remarked, 21 suspected pirates were apprehended.

"Before the operation begun, the pirates on board the ship killed five of the crew. Among those killed were three from Pakistan, one from Myanmar and one from India, " it remarked.

For now, efforts underway to repatriate remains of 3 Pakistanis killed while recovering hijacked remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.