Pakistan Pursues Release of 10 Nationals Held by Somali Pirates Off Puntland Coast
Pakistan is pursuing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of 10 nationals held by Somali pirates after the hijacking of the MT Honour 25 off Somalia’s Puntland region in April, with officials saying negotiations are ongoing as the crew’s conditions deteriorate.
Ambreen Fatima holds a portrait of her husband, a crew member of the hijacked tanker Honour 25, during a protest. (Reuters)
ISLAMABAD (Somali Report) — Pakistan says it is working through diplomatic channels to secure the release of 10 Pakistani nationals held hostage by Somali pirates after the hijacking of an oil tanker off Somalia’s coast in April, as negotiations continue amid deteriorating conditions for the crew.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told Pakistan’s National Assembly that the government was actively pursuing the case through diplomatic engagement with Somali officials. He said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had already spoken with his Somali counterpart regarding the situation.
The case involves the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker seized by pirates on April 21 while sailing from Oman toward Somalia. The vessel had 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistanis, and remains held off Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region.
Families of the hostages have repeatedly appealed for urgent intervention, warning that their relatives are facing worsening conditions onboard, including shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies.
Tarar said Pakistan’s diplomatic missions, including the embassy in Djibouti, are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Somali officials and the vessel’s operators. Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch has also been in regular contact with relevant counterparts.
Reports shared with Pakistan’s parliament indicate that the crew has been surviving on limited rations, with some reportedly receiving only one meal a day consisting of boiled rice. The crew has also described a lack of clean drinking water, forcing them to consume contaminated supplies, leading to illness among some members.
In video and audio messages cited in parliament, the hostages appealed for urgent assistance, warning that their conditions were rapidly deteriorating.
Pakistani officials say the hostages are not in the custody of the Somali government but are being held by armed groups operating in the region, complicating rescue efforts.
The Foreign Office has said it is working with Somali contacts and the vessel’s owner to ensure continued delivery of food and water while negotiations proceed. Officials also acknowledged that piracy incidents in the region often take months to resolve due to the complex security environment.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi described the situation as “grave,” noting that the tanker is carrying highly explosive cargo, which limits the possibility of any military or law enforcement rescue operation due to safety risks.
He confirmed that Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti had previously visited Somalia to gather first-hand information and continues to coordinate with maritime and regional authorities.
Diplomatic sources say negotiations over the release of the crew are ongoing. The pirates initially demanded a ransom of around $10 million before later reducing the figure to approximately $4 million, but no agreement has yet been reached.
The hijacking has renewed concerns over maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters, where attacks had declined significantly after a peak in the early 2010s. However, recent reports from maritime monitoring bodies indicate a resurgence of incidents along key shipping routes.
The EU Naval Force Operation Atalanta has previously warned of a “substantial” threat level for commercial shipping in waters off Somalia following multiple attacks in recent months.
For the families of the Pakistani sailors, the situation remains deeply uncertain. Relatives have staged public protests in Pakistan, urging authorities to intensify diplomatic pressure and secure the safe return of their loved ones.
Officials in Islamabad say they remain committed to resolving the crisis peacefully through continued engagement with Somali contacts, vessel operators, and international maritime stakeholders.
About the Author
Mohamed Farah is a senior editor at Somali Report, based in London, covering geopolitics, trade, business, and security across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.