The Pakistani survivors of the oil tanker Honour 25, which was hijacked by Somali pirates on April 21, have been relocated to Garowe, the capital of Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region. The Foreign Office confirmed that the survivors were initially brought ashore at Bandar Beyla and then safely transferred to Garowe, where they are receiving medical treatment. The tanker had 17 crew members aboard, including 10 Pakistanis, when it was seized.
The hijacking of the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 resulted in the deaths of five sailors, including three Pakistanis, and injured four others. The three Pakistani nationals killed were identified as Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umar, and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari. An Indian and a Myanmar national were also killed, while an Indian sailor was among the four wounded. Puntland maritime police reported that the five crew members were killed by pirates before their operation to recover the tanker began.
The surviving crew members are currently receiving medical care in Garowe, with three of the four injured being Pakistani nationals. The Pakistani government has been working to bring home the crew members following their release from captivity. Officials from the Pakistani embassy in Djibouti are heading to the coastal town to assist the crew. The government remains in contact with Somali authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate medical care for the injured and the safe return of the surviving Pakistani crew members.
The Pakistani government has not provided a timetable for the return of the surviving crew members or the repatriation of the bodies. Families of the Pakistani sailors had repeatedly appealed to Islamabad for help during their captivity, while crew members had warned through a Pakistani rights group that their captors were threatening to kill hostages if security forces attempted to retake the vessel.
Puntland authorities reported that the vessel was secured and suspected pirates were detained, ending an ordeal that had lasted since April. The recovery of the tanker was a result of a successful operation by Puntland forces. The incident highlights the ongoing threat of piracy in the region and the need for continued international cooperation to combat it.
The relocation of the survivors to Garowe is a significant development in the efforts to bring the ordeal to a close. The Pakistani government is working closely with Somali authorities to ensure the safe return of the surviving crew members. The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of sailors and the need for increased security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The situation is being closely monitored, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available. The Pakistani government has assured that it is doing everything possible to support the affected families and ensure the safe return of the surviving crew members.
Key points
- The Pakistani survivors of the hijacked oil tanker have been relocated to Garowe, Somalia, where they are receiving medical treatment.
- The hijacking resulted in the deaths of five sailors, including three Pakistanis, and injured four others.
- The Pakistani government is working to bring home the crew members following their release from captivity.
