Following an earlier statement from the Foreign Office (FO) that Pakistanis aboard the LPG tanker were safe and sound and moving out of Yemeni waters, (Former Caretaker) Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Naqvi posted details on X. He revealed that the vessel was attacked on September 17 while it was docked at the Ras Issa port, which was under the control of Houthi rebels.
Details of the Attack and Hostage Situation
- Context of the Attack: The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been firing missiles and drones at Israel and Red Sea shipping, claiming solidarity with the Palestinian cause, amid repeated retaliatory attacks by Israel on Houthi targets.
- Crew Composition: According to Naqvi, the LPG tanker’s crew included Pakistani nationals, two Sri Lankans, and a Nepali. He confirmed that the vessel’s captain was also a Pakistani.
- Immediate Aftermath: Naqvi added that an LPG tank had exploded following the attack, but the crew managed to extinguish the fire.
- Hostage-Taking: He stated, “The vessel was subsequently stopped by Houthi boats and the crew were held hostage aboard the ship.”
Release and Acknowledgements
- Naqvi confirmed that the tanker and its crew “have now been released by the Houthis and are out of Yemeni waters.”
- He expressed profound gratitude to the officials involved in securing the release: “I am profoundly grateful to Secretary Interior Khurram Agha and other MOI (Ministry of Interior) officers, Ambassador Naveed Bokhari and his team in Oman, our colleagues in Saudi Arabia, and especially the officials of our security agencies who worked day and night under extraordinary conditions to secure the safe release of our citizens when hope was fading.”
Foreign Office (FO) Statement
Earlier, the FO had stated that 24 Pakistani nationals aboard the vessel were safe and sound and making their way out of Yemeni waters.
- The FO confirmed that the tanker had caught fire off the coast of Yemen on September 17. Upon receiving news, relevant Pakistan embassies established contact with authorities in Yemen to ensure the well-being of the crew.
- The diplomatic missions also maintained contact with the family members of the Pakistani crew, keeping them updated.
- The FO concluded: “Today, the LPG tanker has departed [from the] port and is making [its] way out of Yemeni waters. The entire crew, including Pakistani nationals, on board is safe and sound.”
