FM Dar urges IMO chief to help secure release of Pakistani crew held by Somali pirates

DPM Dar meets IMO secretary general, appreciates body role for safe, secure and efficient international shipping

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday called for urgent intervention by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to secure the release of 10 Pakistani seafarers held aboard the MT Honour 25, during a meeting with IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Ten Pakistani sailors, who have been held hostage since April, are among the crew of the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker that was hijacked by armed pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. Besides the Pakistani crew members, the hostages include seven Indonesians, including the captain, as well as an Indian and a Sri Lankan. There has been no progress either in negotiations or the payment of the ransom, said to be around $3 million.

The statement said FM Dar met Dominguez in London, where he reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to the IMO and appreciated its role as the principal international regulatory body for safe, secure and efficient international shipping.

"FM Dar highlighted Pakistan’s continued efforts to strengthen maritime governance, implement international maritime standards, and further develop its blue economy," it said.

The statement said that the two sides also discussed further strengthening Pakistan-IMO cooperation in maritime safety, security, regulatory reforms, and the development of Pakistan’s maritime sector.

The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, met Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), today in London. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to the IMO and appreciated its… pic.twitter.com/9W66VUIF2l

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 24, 2026

FM Dar arrived in London on Sunday to undertake a five-day official visit to the United Kingdom from August 24-28. During the visit, FM Dar is due to meet UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office minister of state for Pakistan, Stephen Doughty, as well as other senior UK government officials.

FM Dar will also meet Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. The foreign ministry said the deputy prime minister would also "engage with British parliamentarians and representatives of the British-Pakistani community".

Read: DPM Dar to undertake five-day official visit to UK from August 24-28th

The visit assumes significance against the backdrop of Pakistan's increasingly visible diplomatic role in regional and international affairs, with Islamabad seeking to translate its recent diplomatic engagements into stronger relations with major powers.

Diplomatic sources said Dar's visit would provide an opportunity to further consolidate Pakistan's ties with the United Kingdom and discuss a range of bilateral, regional and international issues.

The sources said Pakistan's recent role in facilitating peace efforts and de-escalation in the Middle East had enhanced its diplomatic profile, with major powers, including the UK, acknowledging Islamabad's contribution to regional stability and mediation efforts.

They also pointed to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, saying the trilateral arrangement had further highlighted Pakistan's growing role in collective security, strategic cooperation and peace in the region.

A key engagement during Dar's visit will be his meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, according to the diplomatic sources.

The two sides are expected to review the full spectrum of Pakistan-UK relations and explore ways to deepen political, economic and institutional cooperation. Discussions are likely to cover trade and investment, cultural cooperation, people-to-people contacts and the contribution of the Pakistani diaspora in Britain.