ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday said efforts were under way to bring home the bodies of three Pakistani crew members who died during an operation to recover the hijacked vessel MT Honour 25 off the Somali coast.
Speaking at his weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of five crew members during the recovery operation.
He identified the Pakistani nationals killed in the incident as Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari.
According to the spokesperson, four other crew members, including three Pakistanis, sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
Khan said the surviving crew members were initially brought ashore at Bandar Beyla before being safely transported to Garowe, where those injured are undergoing medical care.
He said the Pakistani government was coordinating closely with Somali authorities and other relevant parties to ensure medical assistance for the injured, repatriation of the deceased and the safe return of the surviving Pakistani crew.
The crew had remained in captivity since April 11, with the recovery mission launched to secure the release of personnel from several countries, including Pakistan.
“During the operation to retrieve the vessel, three Pakistanis and two other foreign nationals lost their lives,” the spokesperson said.
Khan said Pakistan’s ambassador to Djibouti was travelling to Addis Ababa, while the deputy head of mission was already in Garowe and maintaining contact with the hospitalised crew members.
He added that the mortal remains of the deceased Pakistanis were in the custody of Pakistani diplomatic officials in Garowe.
Regarding arrangements for bringing the bodies home, the spokesperson said they would be transported through Addis Ababa airport on Ethiopian Airlines, which has a direct connection to Pakistan.
He said the exact timeline would depend on completion of local formalities and the medical condition of the injured crew members.
“Our Embassy and the government are making every effort to ensure the earliest possible repatriation of the Pakistanis,” Khan said, adding that injured crew members would continue to receive appropriate medical care.
