Pakistan intensifies efforts for release of hostages from Somali pirate custody

ISLAMABAD: The release of Pakistani and foreign crew members of the vessel Honor 25, who have been held hostage by Somali pirates, has not yet been secured, the Foreign Office said.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi described the situation as “extremely unfortunate”, saying Pakistan had so far been unable to ensure the safe release of the detained crew members.

He said an inter-ministerial process was currently underway to address the issue and secure the hostages’ release.

According to the spokesperson, the Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and other relevant institutions are involved in the process and are continuously monitoring developments concerning the detained crew.

Andrabi said one of the major challenges was the location where the crew members were being held. He explained that the hostages were in a self-governing region of Somalia, making the operational measures required for their safe recovery particularly complex and difficult.

Negotiations with the pirates also remain a significant challenge, the Foreign Office spokesperson said. He added that the situation had become more complicated due to Somalia’s tribal system and the involvement of influential local figures, including individuals linked to the group that seized the vessel.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan remained hopeful of making progress and achieving better results in efforts to secure the crew’s release. Andrabi said Islamabad was maintaining continuous contact with the Somali government, Somali authorities and relevant international organisations to resolve the matter.

The spokesperson also expressed sympathy with the families and relatives of the detained crew members, saying the government fully understood their concerns, anxiety and pain as they awaited the safe return of their loved ones.

The Foreign Office maintained that efforts to secure the release of the crew were continuing, with relevant Pakistani ministries and institutions closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Somali and international authorities.