ISLAMABAD / NAIROBI: Pakistani crew members aboard the hijacked vessel MT Honour 25 have called for urgent government intervention after a newly released video showed their worsening conditions in captivity off Somalia’s Puntland coast.
The vessel was seized on April 21 by pirates near Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, with 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistani nationals. Families of the hostages say the situation has deteriorated over nearly two months of captivity.
In a video message, second officer Syed Kashif Umar said the Pakistani crew had been held for 57 days, citing shortages of food and illness among some members. He appealed for authorities to pressure the vessel’s owners to engage in negotiations with the captors.
The ship’s Indonesian captain also issued a separate appeal to his government for assistance in securing the crew’s release.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said last week that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of its citizens and reiterated that the government remains committed to their safe return.
Diplomatic sources said the vessel remains anchored off the Somali coast while negotiations continue, with Somali authorities reportedly facilitating communication between the pirates and the ship’s owner.
According to these sources, ransom demands initially set at $10 million were later reduced to $4 million, but no agreement has been reached.
Family members of the detained crew have urged authorities to intensify diplomatic and commercial pressure to secure their release.
Piracy off Somalia’s coast surged in the 2000s, peaking in 2011 before declining due to international naval patrols and enhanced maritime security measures. However, recent reports from the European Union Naval Force’s Operation Atalanta indicate renewed incidents in the region.
The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean reported multiple attacks in late April, raising concerns about a possible resurgence of piracy activity in key shipping routes.
Authorities said there is no confirmed link between the hijacking and wider regional tensions affecting shipping lanes in the aftermath of ongoing geopolitical developments in the area.