Ten Pakistani Sailors Still Held By Somali Pirates As Dar Orders Diplomatic Push

More than 110 days after their tanker was seized off the coast of Somalia, ten Pakistani sailors are still waiting to come home. Their prolonged captivity has now pushed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to order a more intensive diplomatic effort to secure their release.

A Hijacking That Has Dragged On For Months

The sailors were aboard the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker, when it was hijacked off the coast of Puntland, Somalia, back in April 2026. What might once have been resolved within weeks has instead stretched past the 110-day mark, according to reports tracking the case, with no confirmed breakthrough in negotiations. Somali pirates are reportedly demanding a ransom of around three million dollars for the crew's release, a sum that has so far kept talks stalled.

Families And Hostages Appeal For Help

As the captivity has dragged on, both the hostages themselves and their families have made public appeals urging the Pakistani government to accelerate efforts to bring them home. The prolonged uncertainty, with no clear resolution date and a ransom demand that remains unmet, has turned what began as a maritime security incident into a mounting source of anxiety for families waiting for news.

Dar Orders Intensified Engagement

In response to the stalled situation, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has directed officials to intensify diplomatic engagement aimed at securing the sailors' release. The matter has also reached Pakistan's National Assembly, where Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told lawmakers that all-out efforts were underway to bring the crew members back safely. The parliamentary discussion reflects growing pressure on the government to show visible progress on a case that has now stretched well beyond what officials likely anticipated when it began.

Why It Matters

Cases like this sit at an uncomfortable intersection of diplomacy, maritime security and ransom politics, since paying pirates risks encouraging further hijackings while refusing to pay prolongs the danger to hostages. With over 110 days already gone and a seven-figure ransom demand still on the table, the pressure on Pakistan's foreign ministry to find a resolution, without setting a precedent that puts future crews at greater risk, is likely to keep intensifying the longer the standoff continues.