Govt working to secure release of Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates

The Foreign Office has acknowledged the situation is “serious and complex,” noting that the vessel’s location and its highly explosive cargo complicate rescue efforts.

Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry says the government is “actively working” to secure the release of 10 Pakistani sailors held hostage by Somali pirates for more than a month.

The oil tanker Honour 25, sailing under the Somali flag from Oman to Somalia, was hijacked on April 21 with 17 crew members aboard, including 10 Pakistanis. Families of the hostages have repeatedly appealed for their safe release. In video and audio messages, the sailors said food and medicine had run out, leaving them with only one serving of boiled rice a day and forcing them to drink contaminated water.

Chaudhry said he had spoken to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Pakistan’s ambassador in Somalia about the case. He expressed concern over the deteriorating health of the crew and stressed that Islamabad was in constant contact with Somali authorities and the shipowner, who is negotiating with the pirates.

The Foreign Office has acknowledged the situation is “serious and complex,” noting that the vessel’s location and its highly explosive cargo complicate rescue efforts. Officials said direct military action could endanger lives, so negotiations and diplomatic engagement remain the priority.

Pakistan has urged Somali authorities and the shipowner to ensure hostages receive food, clean water, and basic necessities while talks continue. Security analysts warn the incident may signal a resurgence of opportunistic hijackings in the region, recalling the peak of Somali piracy in 2011 when attacks threatened one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

For now, Islamabad insists it is pursuing every channel to bring the sailors home safely, balancing humanitarian urgency with the risks posed by the pirates and the ship’s dangerous cargo.