KARACHI: The deadly Red Sea attack that claimed the lives of two Pakistani sailors has brought the crew home, with their remains arriving in Karachi alongside injured sailors returning for medical treatment, officials and sources said Thursday.
The bodies of Umair Afzal, a resident of Landhi, and Muhammad Akram, from the Manzil Pump area, arrived at Jinnah International Airport from Jeddah on Saudi Airlines flight SV700, according to airport sources.
Three injured crew members Abid Ali, Muhammad Rizwan and Muhammad Waheed were also flown to Karachi on Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-762.
Airport sources said representatives of the Saudi Embassy and senior Pakistani government officials received the bodies and injured sailors upon their arrival.
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Other Pakistani crew members injured in the attack were transported to Islamabad, where arrangements were made for their medical treatment and further assistance.
The sailors were serving aboard the Tanzania-flagged commercial vessel Tihamah, which came under attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on Aug. 11.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a post on X that six Pakistani sailors injured in the attack had safely returned to Pakistan. He also confirmed the repatriation of the remains of the two sailors who were killed.
Dar said relevant authorities had been instructed to ensure the safe, dignified and prompt repatriation of the deceased sailors.
He praised the Pakistani Consulate General in Jeddah and the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh for helping arrange the sailors’ return and the repatriation of the bodies. He noted that Pakistan does not have a diplomatic mission in Yemen.
The foreign minister also thanked the Federal Investigation Agency for facilitating the sailors’ arrival and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry for providing medical assistance and helping with arrangements in Jeddah.
Pakistan had earlier condemned the attack on the commercial vessel, saying attacks on civilian shipping endanger innocent lives and violate international law.
Dar expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said Pakistan remained committed to providing all possible assistance to the injured sailors and their families.
He also stressed the importance of protecting the safety and security of seafarers as commercial vessels continue to face security risks in the Red Sea.
