ISLAMABAD – Pakistani sailors held aboard a hijacked vessel off the Somali coast have appealed for urgent government intervention after a newly released video highlighted their worsening conditions in captivity.
The MT Honour 25, carrying 17 crew members including 10 Pakistanis, was hijacked by pirates near Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on April 21. Since the incident, families of the hostages have expressed growing concern over their safety, saying the situation on board has steadily deteriorated.
In the video message, second officer Syed Kashif Umar said the Pakistani crew had been held for 57 days and urged authorities to take immediate steps for their release. He stated that the hostages were facing severe food shortages, while several members had fallen ill. He also claimed that the vessel’s owners were reluctant to engage in negotiations, calling on the government to persuade the company to enter talks with the captors.
The Indonesian captain of the ship also appealed to his government for assistance in securing the release of the crew.
The Foreign Office has earlier said that the government remains committed to bringing back Pakistani citizens held by Somali pirates for nearly two months.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, none of the hostages has been released so far. Diplomatic sources said the vessel remains anchored off the Somali coast, while negotiations with the pirates are continuing.
According to sources, Somali authorities are in contact with the pirates through the vessel’s owner as part of efforts to secure the crew’s release. The pirates initially demanded a ransom of $10 million, later reducing it to $4 million, but talks have yet to produce any breakthrough.
Meanwhile, the families of the Pakistani crew members have urged authorities to intensify efforts for their safe recovery.
Piracy off Somalia’s coast, which was widespread in the 2000s, peaked in 2011 when hundreds of incidents were reported. The threat later declined due to international naval patrols and improved security measures adopted by commercial shipping companies.
However, recent reports by the European Union naval mission suggest a renewed rise in piracy incidents in the region. The EU’s Operation Atalanta, monitored through the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO), recorded three attacks in late April.
Shipping activity in the region has also been disrupted in recent months amid regional tensions, although there is no confirmed link between these developments and the hijacking of the MT Honour 25.
Somalia promises assistance for safe return of Pakistani crew held by pirates
