MOGADISHU/ISLAMABAD: Pakistani crew members held hostage aboard a hijacked cargo vessel have issued an urgent appeal for help, as their captivity off the Somali coast enters its 57th day amid worsening living conditions and stalled negotiations.
The vessel, MT Honour 25, was seized on April 21 near Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region by armed pirates, along with its crew of 17 sailors, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
In a newly released video, second officer Syed Kashif Umar said the hostages are facing severe hardships, including food shortages and illness among crew members. He urged Pakistani authorities to intervene and pressure the ship’s owners into entering meaningful negotiations with the captors.
The Indonesian captain of the vessel also appeared in the video, appealing to his government for assistance in securing the safe release of all crew members.
According to maritime sources, ransom talks have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. The pirates initially demanded $10 million but later reduced their demand to $4 million. However, negotiations remain deadlocked, with the vessel still anchored off the Somali coast.
Diplomatic sources said the Somali authorities are in contact with the pirates through intermediaries linked to the ship’s ownership, but no concrete progress has been made toward the crew’s release.
The Foreign Office has reiterated that Pakistan is actively engaged in efforts to secure the safe return of its citizens and is maintaining coordination with relevant international stakeholders.
Families of the abducted crew members have expressed deep concern over their worsening conditions and have urged the government to intensify diplomatic pressure for their release.
Maritime piracy off Somalia was once a major global security threat, peaking in the early 2010s, before declining due to international naval operations. However, recent reports suggest a renewed increase in attacks in the region, raising fresh concerns for commercial shipping routes.