A Somali anti piracy operation ended in tragedy after five crew members, including three Pakistani nationals, lost their lives during a rescue mission to free the hijacked tanker MT Honour 25. The vessel had been under pirate control since April when it was seized near the coast of Puntland, a semi autonomous region in Somalia.
According to Puntland authorities, the tanker was carrying 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis, when pirates took control of the ship. During the operation to retake the vessel, the pirates reportedly killed five crew members before security forces successfully regained control. The victims included three Pakistanis, one Indian national, and one citizen of Myanmar.
Officials confirmed that the rescue mission was successful and that 16 pirates were arrested. However, the operation also left four crew members injured. Reports indicate that three of the injured were Pakistani citizens, while the fourth was from India.
Human rights activist Ansar Burney expressed concern about the condition of the crew and highlighted that warnings about the dangers facing the hostages had been raised several times. He urged authorities to ensure the safe return of the surviving crew members and requested that the bodies of those who lost their lives be handed over to their families without delay.
One of the Pakistani victims was Second Officer Kashif Umar from Karachi. Family members and neighbors gathered at his residence after news of his death emerged. According to the Ansar Burney Trust, Umar had previously informed his family that food supplies, drinking water, and other necessities on board were becoming critically low.
The rescue operation comes amid a renewed rise in Somali piracy, raising concerns about maritime security in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean region. Experts believe changing regional conditions and increased interest in petroleum cargoes have contributed to the return of pirate attacks, creating new challenges for international shipping and seafarer safety.
