An oil tanker named Honour 25, carrying 11 Pakistani crew members, was hijacked by pirates near the coast of Somalia on April 21. This alarming incident triggered immediate response measures from Islamabad to ensure the safety of those onboard.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs confirmed the attack and stated that swift actions have been taken to facilitate the safe recovery of the crew. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has requested a comprehensive report on the event and instructed relevant authorities to enhance and coordinate rescue operations promptly.
The ministry emphasized its ongoing communication with all involved agencies and is closely monitoring the situation. Additionally, it has urged the Foreign Office to initiate diplomatic negotiations without delay. Efforts are also underway to establish contact with the Somali government to secure the release of the Pakistani nationals aboard the vessel.
In a related case earlier this year, Somali pirates captured a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship along with its 23 crew members near Somalia’s coast. The vessel and crew were eventually freed after a ransom, reportedly consisting of substantial sums of US dollars, was delivered by air. Since then, a series of similar attacks has raised concerns about a potential resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean, as opportunistic pirates exploit security gaps following the withdrawal of international naval forces.
