Yemen’s Houthis release 24 Pakistani crew of seized LPG tanker

ISLAMABAD: Yemen’s Houthis have released the Pakistani crew along with the Yemen seized LPG tanker, announced Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday.

In a statement on X, Naqvi said the LPG tanker had 27 crew members — “24 Pakistanis, including Captain Mukhtar Akbar; 2 Sri Lankans; and 1 Nepali.”

On 17th September 2025, while the vessel was docked at Ras al-Esa port under Houthi control, it was “attacked by an Israeli drone.” One LPG tank exploded, but the crew managed to put out the fire. Soon after, Houthi boats stopped the vessel and held the crew hostage.

Naqvi expressed his gratitude: “I am profoundly grateful to Secretary Interior Khurram Agha and other MOI 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.”

He added, “Alhamdulillah, the tanker and its crew have now been released by the Houthis and are out of Yemeni waters. Pakistan Hamesha Zindabad.”

The Foreign Office spokesperson also confirmed that the LPG tanker left the port on Saturday and is now out of Yemeni waters. “The entire crew, including Pakistani nationals on board, was safe and sound,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that “on September 17th, an LPG tanker caught fire off the coast of Yemen.” Soon after the news, Pakistani embassies established contact with Yemeni authorities to ensure the safety of the crew. “Efforts were made to set the tanker underway again,” it was said.

An LPG tanker with 27 crew members (24 Pakistanis, including Captain Mukhtar Akbar; 2 Sri Lankans; 1 Nepali) was attacked by an Israeli drone while docked at Ras al-Esa port (under Houthi control) on 17 September 2025. One LPG tank exploded and the crew managed to extinguish the…

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) September 27, 2025

Diplomatic missions also remained in touch with the families of the Pakistani crew, keeping them updated throughout the crisis.

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