Pakistan has appealed for immediate intervention from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to facilitate the release and safe return of 10 Pakistani seafarers detained aboard the MT Honour 25. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar made this appeal during a meeting with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in London.
The MT Honour 25, a product tanker flying the Palau flag, was seized on April 21 roughly 30 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region. The vessel had 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistanis. Families of the Pakistani crew members have voiced increasing anxiety over their wellbeing and have urged the government to intensify efforts to secure their safe repatriation.
During the meeting, Dar expressed gratitude to Dominguez for supporting ongoing initiatives aimed at the seafarers’ release. He emphasized the need for “urgent and effective institutional intervention” to ensure their prompt return. The foreign minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s enduring commitment to the IMO, recognizing its critical role as the leading international authority for safe, secure, and efficient maritime operations.
Dar highlighted Pakistan’s initiatives to enhance maritime governance, implement international maritime standards, and advance the nation’s blue economy. Discussions also focused on strengthening collaboration between Pakistan and the IMO in areas such as maritime safety, security, regulatory reforms, and the overall development of Pakistan’s maritime sector.
Notably, piracy off Somalia’s coast was rampant during the 2000s, peaking in 2011 with hundreds of attacks recorded. The threat diminished significantly following international naval deployments and improved security protocols by commercial vessels. However, recent weeks have seen a resurgence in attacks, the European Union naval mission operating off Somalia’s coast.
Operation Atalanta, the EU’s naval force for Somalia, recorded three attacks in late April, its Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO). Additionally, shipping in the region has experienced disruptions since February 28 due to the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran, though there is no immediate evidence linking the hijacking of the Honour 25 to this conflict.
