Pakistani Crew Held by Somali Pirates: 40 Days
Pakistani Crew Held by Somali Pirates With No Sign of Release
KARACHI – (Web Desk) – Pakistani crew held by Somali pirates for over 40 days now, with no freedom in sight. Ten Pakistani sailors remain trapped aboard the hijacked oil tanker Honour 25, seized off the Somali coast on April 21, 2025.
A total of 17 crew members were taken hostage. Along with the 10 Pakistanis, the group includes four Indonesians, one Indian, and one Myanmar national. The ship is still anchored near the Somali coast while talks continue.
Pirates initially demanded $10 million in ransom. They later lowered their demand to $4 million. However, negotiations have not moved forward, and no crew member has been released so far.
Conditions on board are getting worse. Ambreen Yousuf, wife of second engineer Shoaib Hussain Yousuf, said her husband told her the ship’s engine had broken down and people were falling ill. She appealed to the Pakistani government to bring the crew home safely.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs confirmed the hijacking and said immediate steps were taken. The Somali government is also involved, communicating with the pirates through the ship’s owner to push for a release.
This is not the first such incident. In 2024, Somali pirates seized a Bangladesh-flagged vessel and its 23 crew members. They were freed only after sacks of cash were air-dropped as ransom.
Experts warn that piracy in the Indian Ocean is rising again. The EU’s naval mission, Operation Atalanta, recorded three attacks in late April alone. A new group of pirates operating from Garacad in Puntland, Somalia, is believed to be behind the growing threat.
Families of the Pakistani crew are growing desperate. They are urging the government to act faster and bring their loved ones home before the situation turns worse.
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