Somali pirates have demanded a $3 million ransom for the release of 17 crew members aboard the hijacked oil tanker HONOUR 25, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
The vessel was hijacked last month while sailing from Oman to Somalia. The pirates have refused any third-party negotiations and have asked the Pakistani government to contact them directly for talks regarding the ransom.
Families of the kidnapped Pakistani sailors are extremely worried. Reports from the ship reveal that the hostages are facing severe shortages of food, clean drinking water, and medicine. Several crew members have reportedly fallen ill due to the poor conditions while being held captive off the Somali coast.
The development has caused deep concern in Pakistan, especially among the families who have appealed to the government for urgent action to secure the safe release of their loved ones.
Maritime security experts say Somali piracy, which had declined in recent years, appears to be rising again. The Pakistani government has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, but sources say diplomatic efforts are underway through international channels to resolve the crisis.
The safety of Pakistani seafarers remains a major concern as hundreds of Pakistanis work on international merchant ships passing through high-risk waters.
