Ten Pakistani Sailors Remain Captive After Kidnapping by Somali Pirates in April
Author: Aamnah Fatima Khan
September 30, 2026
HRRC expresses serious concern over the continued captivity of 10 Pakistani sailors at the hands of Somali pirates for more than 161 days. We urge the Government of Pakistan and relevant international authorities to enhance their efforts to secure immediate and safe release of the sailors, meanwhile ensuring support to their families.
![Oil tanker similar to the MT Honour 25 [Image credit: Luis Morales Torres/Pexels]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f05ed1_ec5c4e7b9b3b4aab8f9e788f45aadd9f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/f05ed1_ec5c4e7b9b3b4aab8f9e788f45aadd9f~mv2.jpg)
Ten Pakistani sailors remain captive at the hands of Somali pirates after 161 days. The Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Honour 25 was seized off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region on April 21, 2026.
The Pakistani sailors were part of the crew aboard the vessel when it was hijacked, leaving their families waiting for more than five months for their safe return.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has directed relevant authorities to maintain close coordination with and increase diplomatic engagement with authorities in Somalia, international organizations and other partners to facilitate their release with safety and security measures.
Deputy Dar also raised the sailors’ case internationally during his visit to the United Kingdom (UK) in August this year. He was scheduled to discuss the issue with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Despite the efforts, little progress has been made in the negotiations, according to reports. The pirates have demanded around $3 million USD, and uncertainty over the vessel’s ownership further complicated the situation.
Multiple appeals have been made by the sailors for help through video and audio messages, reporting shortages of clean drinking water, food and medicine. The medical conditions of the sailors appeared unwell and weak.
The prolonged captivity has also taken a heavy toll on the families of these sailors. Aisha Ameen declared her infant son has never met his father, sailor Ameen Bin Shamns. Their daughter celebrated her fourth birthday without him.
Syed Izhan Kashif, son of Syed Kashif Umer, who is kept captive by the pirates, said the stress and uncertainty left him unable to sit his A-level examinations. Other families have reported panic attacks, disrupted schooling and children becoming increasingly withdrawn as the ordeal continues.
As of September 29, 2026, the sailors remain captive, while their families continue to urge the government to secure their safe and early return.
Glossary
Appeals – a request to the public for money, information, or help.
Captive – a person or animal whose ability to move or act freely is limited by being kept in a space; a prisoner, especially a person held by the enemy during a war.
Crew – a group of people who work together, especially all those who work on and operate a ship, aircraft, etc.
Flagged or flag something up – to emphasize the importance of something or mention it so that people know about it.
Hijacked – to take control of an aircraft or other vehicle during a journey, especially using violence.
Maritime – connected with human activity at sea.
Pirates – a person who sails in a ship and attacks other ships in order to steal from them.
Prolonged – continuing for a long time.
Seized – to take something quickly and keep or hold it
Uncertainty – a situation in which something is not known, or something that is not known or certain.
Vessel – a large boat or ship.
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