DPM Dar orders intensified diplomatic engagement to secure release of Pakistani hostages

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review Pakistan’s “intensified” efforts for the safe and early release of 10 Pakistani nationals held hostage aboard MT Honour 25 after the vessel was hijacked by pirates off the Somali coast.

The Foreign Office said DPM Dar directed all relevant stakeholders to maintain close and regular coordination and intensify diplomatic engagement with national and international partners, including Somali authorities and relevant international organisations, to secure the safe release of the Pakistani citizens.

The deputy prime minister expressed solidarity with the families of the hostages and reiterated that the government remained fully seized of the situation.

He expressed hope that sustained and coordinated diplomatic efforts would lead to a positive outcome and ensure the safe return of the Pakistani nationals to their families.

In April 2026, Somali pirates attacked and seized the oil tanker MT Honour 25 near the coast of Somalia, taking hostage 11 Pakistani crew members. The vessel, a Palau-flagged product tanker, was seized on April 21, approximately 30 nautical miles off Somalia’s Puntland region, with a total of 17 crew members aboard, including 10 Pakistanis.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on June 11 briefed the media on Pakistan’s foreign policy, regional developments, and efforts concerning Pakistani nationals stranded abroad.

During the weekly press briefing, the spokesperson had confirmed that Pakistani citizens had been taken hostage by Somali pirates and said DPM Dar had formally contacted Somalia’s foreign minister over the matter.

He had said the Somali foreign minister had assured Pakistan of full cooperation to secure the safe release of the abducted citizens.

The spokesperson had said that the Pakistani government remained in close contact with the owner of the cargo vessel involved in an effort to resolve the issue as soon as possible. “However, progress has so far been limited due to the highly complex nature of the situation,” he had said.

Andrabi had noted that the hostage situation was particularly sensitive because it involved a semi-autonomous, tribal region where multiple actors were involved, making negotiations more complicated. Despite these challenges, he had said, “the safety and early release of the Pakistani citizens remain a top priority for the government”.

He had added that the hostages were aboard a cargo ship carrying crew members from several other countries as well.

The spokesperson had said DPM Dar had spoken by telephone with the Somali foreign minister, urging efforts to improve the situation not only for the Pakistani nationals but also for the other hostages. Pakistan had conveyed its serious concern over the matter and stressed the need for immediate action.

Andrabi had said the Somali ambassador in Islamabad was also summoned and informed of Pakistan’s concerns, while inter-ministerial meetings have been held at the Foreign Office to formulate a coordinated strategy for securing progress on the issue.