Pakistan arranges repatriation of three sailors killed in Somalia tanker rescue

Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office said on Saturday that arrangements were under way to repatriate the remains of three Pakistani sailors killed during an operation earlier this week to recover the hijacked oil tanker MT Honour 25 off the coast of Somalia.

The Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday that three Pakistanis — Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari — had died and three others were injured during the recovery of the Palau-flagged tanker, which pirates seized on April 21 about 30 nautical miles off Puntland while carrying about 18,500 barrels of oil. Puntland’s maritime police recovered the vessel on Tuesday.

The PMO said the remains had been taken to Addis Ababa, where Ethiopian Airlines was reviewing arrangements for their onward transfer, with final approval to follow for a flight bound for Karachi.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a relief package of Rs12.5 million for each of the three families, alongside free housing and free education and healthcare for their children. He spoke by telephone with Azhan Kashif, the son of Syed Kashif Umer, to extend his condolences.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that four Pakistani crew members — Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani — had been safely retrieved and were expected in Karachi, while three Pakistanis remained aboard with the captain and Pakistan was coordinating with friendly countries for their extraction.

Sources

• https://www.dawn.com/news/2034504
• https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/10/03/pm-announces-rs125m-aid-homes-free-education-for-somalia-victims-families
• https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/10/03/remains-of-three-pakistani-sailors-to-be-repatriated-soon
• https://nukta.com/pakistan-return-citizens-somalia-rescue
• https://nukta.com/4-pakistani-crew-members-from-hijacked-tanker-retrieved-off-somalia-dar-says