Islamabad — Pakistan has called for the swift release of a group of seafarers, including 11 Pakistani nationals, who were taken hostage after their vessel was hijacked off the coast of Somalia earlier this year.
In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, raised the issue with his Somali counterpart, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, expressing what Pakistan described as its “grave concern” over the continued captivity of the crew.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Mr Dar stressed the importance of ensuring the hostages’ safety and well-being, and urged efforts to secure their early release and safe return home.
The seafarers were aboard the MT Honour 25 when the vessel was seized off Somalia’s southeastern coast on 21 April. The 11 Pakistani crew members, along with the vessel’s remaining crew, remain in captivity.
The Pakistani statement did not identify the group responsible for the hijacking.
In response, Somalia’s foreign minister assured Pakistan that authorities were making “continued and sincere efforts” to secure the release of the hostages as quickly as possible.
Both ministers agreed to remain in close contact as efforts to resolve the situation continue.
The conversation also touched on broader regional issues. According to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Mr Ali praised Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement and mediation efforts aimed at supporting a negotiated resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The hijacking highlights continuing security challenges in waters off the Horn of Africa, where incidents involving armed groups and maritime crime have periodically threatened international shipping routes.
