Six injured Pakistani sailors return after Houthi attack in Red Sea

Six injured Pakistani sailors returned to Karachi on Thursday, and two dead crewmen were repatriated. The homecoming ended days of anguish for families and drew fresh condemnation of the Houthi strike in the Red Sea.Six Pakistani seafarers injured in a recent Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea returned home safely on Thursday, while the mortal remains of two Pakistani sailors killed in the assault were also brought back, officials said.Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said all relevant stakeholders had been directed to ensure their safe, dignified and quick repatriation. He also said Pakistan condemned the attack and remained committed to assisting the injured sailors and the bereaved families.On August 11, four seafarers — three Pakistanis and an Indonesian — were killed and several others were injured after the Tanzania-flagged vessel Tihamah was targeted in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait by the Iranian-backed Houthis. The Houthis have stepped up attacks after announcing a maritime ban on Saudi-linked vessels last month.Dar said in a post on X: "The six Pakistani sailors injured in the recent Houthi attack on a Tanzanian-flagged commercial vessel have safely returned to Pakistan, while the mortal remains of the two Pakistani sailors who tragically lost their lives have also been repatriated." According to officials, Saudi Airlines flight SV700 brought the bodies of the deceased Pakistani sailors and two injured crew members, while Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-762 brought the remaining four injured sailors to Karachi.Officials from the Saudi Embassy and the Pakistan government received them at Karachi airport. Dar commended the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah and the embassy in Riyadh for what he described as their prompt and dedicated efforts in facilitating the return of the injured sailors and the repatriation of the bodies from Yemen, as well as their onward travel to Pakistan.He also appreciated the cooperation of the Saudi Foreign Ministry, including the medical assistance and arrangements made in Jeddah.Dar said: "Pakistan condemns the attack in the strongest terms and reiterates that the safety and security of seafarers must be ensured at all times. We remain committed to extending all possible assistance to the injured sailors and the bereaved families."The Pakistan government had been under sustained pressure to secure the return of the sailors, with their families regularly holding media conferences to highlight their plight. The six injured sailors have now returned, and the bodies of two Pakistani sailors have also been repatriated.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 20, 2026 16:38 IST