Two Pakistani sailors’ remains arrive after Red Sea attack

In practice, the bodies of Umair Afzal, a resident of Landhi, and Muhammad Akram, from the Manzil Pump area, arrived at Jinnah International Airport from Jeddah on Saudi Airlines flight SV700, according to airport sources.

Key points

• Three injured crew members Abid Ali, Muhammad Rizwan and Muhammad Waheed were additionally flown to Karachi on Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-762.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar remarked in a post on X that six Pakistani sailors injured in the attack had safely returned to Pakistan.
• He praised the Pakistani Consulate General in Jeddah and the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh for helping arrange the sailors' return and the repatriation of the bodies.
• Airport sources remarked representatives of the Saudi Embassy and senior Pakistani administration authorities received the bodies and injured sailors upon their arrival.
• Other Pakistani crew members injured in the attack were transported to Islamabad, where arrangements were created for their medical treatment and further assistance.

Notably, the sailors were serving aboard the Tanzania-flagged commercial vessel Tihamah. It came under attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on Aug. 11.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar remarked in a post on X that six Pakistani sailors injured in the attack had safely returned to Pakistan. He additionally confirmed the repatriation of the remains of the two sailors who were killed.

Dar remarked relevant authorities had been instructed to ensure the safe, dignified and prompt repatriation of the deceased sailors.

He praised the Pakistani Consulate General in Jeddah and the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh for helping arrange the sailors' return and the repatriation of the bodies. He observed that Pakistan does not have a diplomatic mission in Yemen.

For context, the foreign minister additionally thanked the Federal Investigation Agency for facilitating the sailors' arrival and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry for providing medical assistance and helping with arrangements in Jeddah.

Pakistan had earlier condemned the attack on the commercial vessel, saying attacks on civilian shipping endanger innocent lives and violate international law.

Dar expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and remarked Pakistan remained committed to providing all feasible assistance to the injured sailors and their families.

He additionally stressed the importance of protecting the safety and security of seafarers as commercial vessels continue to face security risks in the Red Sea.

Taken together, the developments around two Pakistani sailors' remains arrive after Red Sea attack point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.