Pakistan Steps Up Diplomatic Efforts to Free 10 Sailors Held in Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has ordered its authorities to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the release of 10 Pakistani sailors held in Somalia for months, as Islamabad seeks closer cooperation with Somali authorities and international organisations to resolve the case.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Thursday to review the sailors’ situation and efforts to secure their safe release.

The sailors were part of the crew of the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged fuel tanker that was hijacked off the coast of Puntland, Somalia, on April 21.

The vessel had 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis, while the remaining crew were nationals of Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka.

Following the meeting, Pakistan’s government directed the relevant authorities to strengthen coordination with international organisations and Somali officials in an effort to find a way to secure the sailors’ release and return them home.

Islamabad said it was closely monitoring the situation and hoped continued diplomatic engagement and cooperation between the parties would lead to a positive outcome.

The case has also been raised directly with the Somali government.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali said in June that the government was continuing efforts to find a solution and secure the sailors’ release.

Pakistan’s latest move puts renewed diplomatic pressure on efforts to resolve the case, while also signalling that Islamabad is seeking a negotiated outcome rather than relying solely on security measures.

The incident has drawn attention to continuing maritime security risks along Somalia’s coastline, despite international and Somali efforts to improve security in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.

For Somalia, the case also carries diplomatic and economic significance. The country has been seeking to expand its maritime sector, attract investment and strengthen its reputation as a secure trading environment after years in which piracy and armed maritime crime posed major threats to shipping.

The immediate priority for Pakistan remains the safe return of its citizens.

The outcome will depend on continued cooperation between Islamabad, Mogadishu and other parties involved in efforts to resolve the case.