Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea that killed three Pakistani nationals, and said Islamabad was in contact with the relevant authorities.
The attack targeted the Tanzania-flagged vessel Tihamah on August 11, causing deaths and injuries among its crew. Apart from the three Pakistanis, an Indonesian was also killed, Dar said in a post on X. He added that he had received reports of a Pakistani being injured in the attack.
Dar said, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” and added: “Pakistan strongly condemns the Houthi attack on a non-combatant commercial vessel.” He described the attack as endangering innocent lives, constituting a violation of international law, and posing a serious threat to freedom of navigation, maritime security, and the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Injured sailors return, remains repatriated
On Thursday, Dar said that six Pakistani sailors injured in the attack had returned to Pakistan. In an update posted on X, he said, “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.”
Dar appreciated the role of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah and the embassy in Riyadh for facilitating the return and repatriation from Yemen, noting the absence of a Pakistani diplomatic mission in that country. He also lauded the efforts of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the cooperation of the Saudi Foreign Ministry regarding “medical assistance and arrangements provided in Jeddah.”
Reiterating Pakistan’s condemnation of the attack, Dar said the “safety and security of seafarers must be ensured at all times.” He added, “We remain committed to extending all possible assistance to the injured sailors and the bereaved families.”
Attack details and regional context
According to Yemen’s coastguard, the initial strike on the Tihamah caused a fire and extensive damage to the vessel, and a second strike targeted the ship as rescue workers were carrying out an evacuation mission. A Houthi-linked media outlet later reported that the group’s armed forces had also targeted a ship in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait that it said was carrying Saudi military equipment.
The attack was among a series of strikes on ships in and around the entrance to the Red Sea since the Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. In July, Pakistan condemned Houthi threats to Saudi Arabia and warned that it would defend itself if its maritime interests were targeted. Pakistan later described any attack on its maritime interests as a “red line” and said it was ready to play its part in a Saudi-led maritime coalition.