ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for urgent and effective institutional intervention to secure the early release and safe return of all seafarers held captive aboard the MT Honour-25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker that was hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia on April 21.
During a meeting with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in London, he praised Dominguez’s support for ongoing efforts to secure the safe release of 10 Pakistani seafarers held captive aboard the MT Honour-25.
The Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed Islamabad’s longstanding commitment to the IMO and appreciated its role as the principal international regulatory body for safe, secure and efficient international shipping, the Foreign Office statement said.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, met Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), today in London. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to the IMO and appreciated its… pic.twitter.com/9W66VUIF2l
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 24, 2026
He highlighted Pakistan’s continued efforts to strengthen maritime governance, implement international maritime standards and further develop its blue economy.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation also discussed further strengthening cooperation with the IMO in maritime safety, security, regulatory reforms and the development of the country’s maritime sector.
Negotiations over $3 million ransom have made little progress
Four months after the hijacking, negotiations over the hostages’ release and a reported $3 million ransom have made little progress, while concerns continue to grow over the captives’ deteriorating health.
Since their abduction, the crew members have issued several emotional video and audio appeals, reporting shortages of clean drinking water, food and essential medicines.
The hostages are also caught up in an “ownership crisis”, with uncertainty surrounding the tanker’s actual ownership. The man initially believed to be the vessel’s owner was later reported to have been more likely a middleman who had recruited the crew.
The 19-member crew comprises 10 Pakistanis, seven Indonesians, one Indian and one Sri Lankan.
Pakistan, Somalia discuss efforts to secure release of hostages
In June, Ishaq Dar and Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdisalam Ali in a phone call discussed ongoing efforts to secure the safe release of the Pakistani hostages aboard a hijacked vessel near the Somali coast.
The Deputy Prime Minister conveyed Islamabad’s grave concern over the situation and underscored the importance of ensuring the hostages’ well-being, their early release, and safe repatriation, according to the Foreign Office.
“FM Abdisalam Ali assured him of his government’s continued and sincere efforts to secure the hostages’ release at the earliest opportunity. Both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination until the matter is resolved,” the Foreign Office said.
Recent hijackings off the coast of Somalia have raised concerns about a possible resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean. Somali pirate activity reached its peak in 2011, when armed groups carried out attacks across vast stretches of the region, targeting vessels as far as 3,655 kilometres from Somalia’s coastline.
Dar arrives in London on his official visit to United Kingdom
Ishaq Dar reached the United Kingdom on Sunday, ahead of a four-day official visit beginning on Monday, the FO said.
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It noted that during the visit, he will meet the UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty, as well as other senior members of the government.
He is also expected to meet British parliamentarians and representatives of the Pakistani diaspora in the UK.
The visit comes after the two countries agreed to intensify bilateral trade engagement and strengthen business-to-business cooperation in July. The two sides had explored upgrading an existing Trade Dialogue into a more structured economic and trade framework.
