Surviving Pakistani Crew Members of the Hijacked Oil Tanker ‘MT Honor 25’ are arriving at Karachi, today,
(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
The surviving Pakistani crew members of the hijacked oil tanker ‘MT Honor 25’ are arriving at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, today, October 4, 2026, aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694 following a dramatic and deadly rescue operation against Somali pirates.
Official Diplomatic Briefing
According to an urgent message issued by the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, the country’s ambassadors to Djibouti and Ethiopia recently visited the four injured Pakistani crew members: Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams, and Yasir Khan. These four injured survivors, along with the remaining unhurt crew members, Syed Muhammad Murtaza and Mahmood Khan, are returning from Addis Ababa today.
The Hijacking and Bloodstained Rescue Operation
The commercial oil tanker, carrying a crew of 17—including 10 Pakistani nationals—was violently hijacked by armed ocean bandits on April 21, 2026, near Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia.
After months in captivity, a decisive military intervention was launched on September 29, 2026, by the Puntland Maritime Police Force, successfully securing the vessel and arresting more than 16 pirates. However, the rescue operation turned bloody when the cornered pirates opened indiscriminate gunfire before security forces could fully take control of the ship.
The tragic skirmish resulted in the deaths of five crew members:

  • Three Pakistani sailors: Rafiullah Khan, Mahmood Ahmed Ansari, and Syed Kashif Umar lost their lives in the line of duty.
  • Two foreign nationals: One Indian citizen and one national of Myanmar were also killed.
  • Four Pakistanis critically injured: The survivors arriving today sustained severe wounds during the crossfire.
    Historical Context and the 2026 Resurgence
    The roots of Somali piracy trace back to the 1990s civil war following the collapse of Somalia’s central government. Local fishermen originally took up arms to protect their waters against illegal foreign fishing fleets and toxic waste dumping. Over the decades, these vigilante groups transitioned into heavily armed, organized crime syndicates.
    While international naval patrols successfully suppressed the threat between 2008 and 2014, defense experts have documented a dangerous resurgence of Somali pirate attacks throughout 2026. Driven by skyrocketing global oil prices and escalating strategic volatility in the Gulf of Aden, commercial oil tankers have once again become primary, lucrative targets for maritime ambush.
    State Compensation and Repatriation Commitments
    Taking immediate notice of the tragedy, the Government of Pakistan has announced a comprehensive financial aid package consisting of 12.5 million rupees per person for the families of the deceased martyrs. Furthermore, the state has officially pledged to fully cover all educational expenses for the children of the deceased sailors.
    The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally briefed the Pakistani Embassy, providing absolute diplomatic assurances that the mortal remains of the deceased sailors will be repatriated to Pakistan with the highest levels of official state dignity and respect.