ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said it remains actively engaged in efforts to secure the release of 10 Pakistani crew members held hostage by Somali pirates for nearly 50 days following the hijacking of the vessel MT Honour 25 off the coast of Somalia.
The tanker, carrying 17 crew members of multiple nationalities, was seized by pirates near Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on April 21. Families of the hostages have expressed increasing concern over the deteriorating conditions aboard the vessel during the prolonged captivity.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan has undertaken sustained diplomatic and operational efforts to secure the crew’s release but acknowledged that the hostages remain in captivity.
“We are engaged with the Somali authorities, the shipowner, and relevant tribal stakeholders in Puntland to facilitate the early release of the crew,” Andrabi said.
He revealed that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently held a telephone conversation with Somali Foreign Minister Abdul Salam Ali, conveying Pakistan’s serious concern over the situation and stressing the need for the safe release and repatriation of all crew members.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar also urged immediate measures to improve the living conditions of the hostages, including nationals from Indonesia, India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka who are being held alongside the Pakistani crew.
The Somali foreign minister assured Pakistan of his government’s continued efforts to resolve the crisis, while both sides agreed to maintain close coordination until the matter is settled.
Andrabi said the Pakistani government has pursued the issue through multiple channels, including a meeting between Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and Somalia’s ambassador in Islamabad, as well as diplomatic engagement by Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti, which is accredited to Somalia.
He added that inter-ministerial consultations are ongoing, with another high-level meeting scheduled at the Foreign Office next week to review progress and coordinate further action.
Describing the situation as operationally complex, Andrabi noted that the hostages are being held in Puntland, where tribal dynamics complicate negotiations.
“The pirates and the shipowner belong to different tribes, adding another layer of difficulty to the discussions,” he said, while assuring that the matter remains a top priority for the government.
Pakistan has urged patience from the families of the hostages as diplomatic efforts continue to secure their release.