The plight of Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates has prompted the government in Islamabad to formally seek assistance from the International Maritime Organization, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar requesting urgent institutional intervention during a meeting in London on Monday. The appeal marks the latest step in a diplomatic campaign that has stretched over several months since the sailors were first captured.
Who Are the Pakistani Sailors Held by Somali Pirates?
Ten Pakistani nationals are among the 17 member crew of the Palau flagged oil tanker MT Honour 25, which was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region on April 21. The foreign office in Islamabad said the crew has remained in captivity since the seizure, with families of the detained sailors repeatedly appealing to the government to intensify efforts to secure their release. Relatives have said the sailors, in phone calls from captivity, have described worsening health problems as well as shortages of food and clean drinking water aboard the vessel.
Dar’s Meeting With the IMO Secretary-General
Dar raised the case directly with Arsenio Dominguez, the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, during a meeting held as part of the deputy prime minister’s official visit to the United Kingdom, which began on Sunday and continues through August 28. According to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign office, Dar thanked the secretary-general for supporting ongoing efforts to secure the crew’s release and called for urgent and effective institutional intervention to bring about their early return.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on social media that Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to the IMO during the meeting and expressed appreciation for the organisation’s support. The two sides also discussed broader cooperation between Pakistan and the IMO on maritime safety, security, regulatory reform and the development of Pakistan’s maritime sector, with Dar highlighting Islamabad’s continued efforts to strengthen maritime governance and expand its blue economy.
Conditions Aboard MT Honour 25
Pakistan’s foreign office has previously said that the vessel’s owner and Somali authorities remain in contact with the pirates and are negotiating for the crew’s release. Islamabad has asked those involved in the negotiations to ensure that food, drinking water and other essential supplies continue to reach the sailors while talks proceed. Officials have also acknowledged that any law enforcement operation to free the crew by force would be complicated, since MT Honour 25 is reportedly carrying explosive cargo, a factor that has limited the options available to authorities involved in the case.
Pakistan’s Broader Diplomatic Push
The case of the Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates has drawn sustained attention from Islamabad in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Dar directed officials to intensify diplomatic engagement with Somali authorities, international organisations and other relevant partners in order to accelerate efforts toward the crew’s release. Monday’s meeting with the IMO secretary-general builds on that directive, adding an institutional dimension to a case that has so far relied heavily on negotiations between the ship owner and the captors.
Dar’s UK visit is also expected to include meetings with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and other senior members of the UK government, providing additional opportunities to raise the case with international partners who may be able to support the release effort.
What Happens Next
With negotiations between the ship owner and the pirates continuing and the safety of the crew reported to be deteriorating, pressure is likely to grow on international maritime bodies to play a more active role in resolving the case. Pakistan’s appeal to the IMO signals an effort to broaden the diplomatic channels involved beyond bilateral engagement with Somali authorities alone. For the families of the ten Pakistani sailors still awaiting news from aboard MT Honour 25, the outcome of that expanded push will determine how soon the months long ordeal comes to an end.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 25th, 2026
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