In meeting with IMO chief, Dar calls for 'urgent intervention' for return of Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met the International Maritime Organisation’s head and called for “urgent and effective institutional intervention” for the return of 10 Pakistani sailors held captive by Somali pirates, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO). Dar met IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez in London, where he is on a four-day visit. He also…
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez in London to urgently press for the release of 10 Pakistani sailors held captive by Somali pirates. The 10 hostages are part of the crew on the Palau-flagged oil tanker, MT Honour 25, which was hijacked off the coast of Puntland, Somalia on April 21, 2026.
Despite the passage of four months since the hijacking, there has been no progress in negotiations or payment of a ransom believed to be around $3 million, as the seafarers struggle with dwindling supplies of clean water, food, and medicine.
Dar emphasized Pakistan's "longstanding commitment" to IMO during the meeting, expressing gratitude for the organization's role as the primary international regulatory body for safe, secure, and efficient international shipping. Pakistan has been working tirelessly to enhance maritime governance, adhere to international maritime standards, and promote the development of its blue economy.
During their discussion, both sides also explored avenues to further strengthen Pakistan-IMO cooperation in maritime safety, security, regulatory reforms, and the advancement of Pakistan's maritime sector.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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