Govt 'actively working' to secure release of Pakistani sailors in Somali pirate captivity: maritime minister

Contacts FM Ishaq Dar and Pakistan’s ambassador in Somalia

Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Monday that the government was "actively working" to secure the release of 10 seamen held hostage by Somali pirates on a ship for over a month.

The oil tanker Honour 25, sailing under the Somali flag from Oman to Somalia, was hijacked by pirates on April 21. There were 17 crew members aboard, 10 of whom were Pakistani nationals. The families of the Pakistani hostages have continuously appealed to the government for the safe release of their loved ones. 

In video and audio messages, the Pakistani hostages reported that food supplies and medicines on the ship had run out. They said they were being given only one serving of boiled rice per day. Clean drinking water has also run out, forcing the hostages to drink contaminated water, which is causing illnesses among them.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs today said Chaudhry spoke to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar regarding the rescue of the imprisoned seamen and also contacted Pakistan’s ambassador in Somalia.

He also expressed concern over the deteriorating health of the crew members aboard the hijacked ship.

"The government is actively working for the safe return of Pakistani citizens," the statement quoted the minister as saying, adding that Pakistan was in constant contact with the foreign ministry and the Somali embassy.

He emphasised expediting steps for the early and safe release of the crew, adding that humanitarian efforts were initiated as soon as the incident was reported in April.

Last week, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan remained “actively engaged” in efforts to secure the release of the crew.

Addressing a weekly media briefing, Andrabi acknowledged that the situation remained serious and complex. The maritime minister assured that Islamabad was liaising with the shipowner, also a principal negotiator with the pirates, while the Somali government remained cognizant of the entire situation.

According to the Foreign Office, the vessel’s location and its highly explosive cargo significantly complicated rescue efforts.

The spokesman explained that any direct law-enforcement operation could endanger the lives of the hostages, and the authorities had prioritised negotiations and diplomatic engagement.

He had also urged the Somali government and the ship owner to ensure that the hostages were provided with food, potable water and other basic amenities while the negotiations continued.

Security analysts have warned that recent incidents could signal a revival of opportunistic hijacking in the region, posing grave risks to international shipping and maritime crews.

Somali pirate attacks reached their peak in 2011, when armed groups launched operations as far as 3,655 kilometres from Somalia's coastline, threatening one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.