ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has ramped up its diplomatic and operational efforts to secure the safe and swift release of its ten nationals held hostage aboard the hijacked vessel MT Honour 25, as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level emergency meeting to review the unfolding crisis off the Somali coast.
The ship was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, a region long plagued by maritime banditry, with the Pakistani crew members now at the centre of a delicate and high-stakes diplomatic operation.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired a high-level meeting today to review Pakistan’s intensified efforts for the safe and early release of 10 Pakistani hostages aboard MT Honour 25, following the vessel’s hijacking by pirates off… pic.twitter.com/37lY160HOj
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 13, 2026
Presiding over the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Dar directed all relevant stakeholders to maintain close and regular coordination while intensifying diplomatic engagement with both national and international partners, including Somali authorities and relevant international organisations, to facilitate the safe release of the captive citizens.
Read Also: Pakistan, Somalia Discuss Efforts to Secure Release of Pakistani Hostages on Hijacked Vessel
“The Government of Pakistan remains fully seized of the situation,” asserted Dar, expressing solidarity with the anguished families awaiting news of their loved ones. He reaffirmed the state’s unwavering commitment to securing the hostages’ freedom, emphasising that every available channel was being leveraged to bring the crisis to a positive resolution.
Deputy Prime Minister @MIshaqDar50 has directed to intensify efforts for the safe and early release of ten Pakistani hostages hijacked by pirates off the Somali coast.@ForeignOfficePk #News #RadioPakistan https://t.co/nAfFpZEToy pic.twitter.com/PdsB7TB4Yq
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) August 13, 2026
Sustained diplomacy: A multi-pronged approach
The high-level meeting brought together key officials from across the government apparatus, underscoring the seriousness with which Islamabad is treating the hostage situation. The Deputy Prime Minister’s directives were unequivocal: maintain relentless coordination, explore every diplomatic avenue, and leave no stone unturned in the quest for the citizens’ safe return.
Read Also: Somali Pirates Release Bangladesh-flagged Vessel and Crew After Ransom Payment
“I hope that sustained and coordinated engagement will lead to a positive outcome and the safe return of the Pakistani citizens to their families,” Dar stated.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s assurance that the government is “fully seized” of the situation reflects the administration’s determination to secure a positive outcome. With coordinated diplomatic engagement now in full swing, Islamabad is leaving no avenue unexplored in its mission to bring its citizens home.
