ISLAMABAD — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that three Pakistani nationals were killed after Somali pirates opened fire on the crew of the hijacked commercial oil tanker MT Honour 25 during an armed maritime recovery operation off the coast of Puntland, Somalia.
The deceased Pakistani crew members have been identified as Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer, and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari. The Foreign Office reported that four additional crew members sustained injuries during the assault, three of whom are Pakistani nationals currently receiving emergency medical treatment under diplomatic coordination.
Ambush During Maritime Police Intervention
According to maritime security reports and regional authorities, the incident unfolded as the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) conducted an operation to recover the oil tanker, which had been seized by heavily armed pirate syndicates in the waters of the Horn of Africa in April 2026.
As maritime security forces closed in on the vessel, the pirate captors opened indiscriminate fire on the merchant crew before abandoning the ship. A total of five fatalities were recorded among the multinational crew, including one national each from Myanmar and India, alongside the three Pakistani seafarers.
The tragedy highlights ongoing security vulnerabilities across strategic sea lanes, which have also been addressed in broader international maritime and regional security dialogues hosted by regional partners.
Diplomatic Evacuation and Repatriation Efforts
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of innocent Pakistani lives, extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
The Foreign Office stated that Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in the Horn of Africa region have established round-the-clock coordination with local authorities, port administrations, and medical facilities to ensure specialized medical care for the injured sailors and expedite the repatriation of the mortal remains to Pakistan.
“Our embassy in the region is in continuous contact with local authorities and the maritime police command to facilitate the immediate evacuation of the injured and complete all necessary legal and consular formalities for the swift return of the deceased crew members to their families in Pakistan,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said.
Renewed Threats in Horn of Africa Shipping Corridors
The hijacking of the MT Honour 25 and the subsequent deadly confrontation mark one of the most severe maritime hostage crises involving Pakistani seafarers in recent years. International maritime monitoring organizations have warned of resurgent pirate activity and armed boarding incidents across the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean transit corridors.
Pakistan naval commands and international maritime coalition task forces continue to maintain vigilance across designated maritime security corridors to protect commercial shipping and safeguard merchant mariners traversing high-risk waters.