New video of Pakistani crew held hostage by Somali pirates emerges

A disturbing new video has surfaced showing Pakistani crew members held hostage aboard the hijacked oil tanker Honour 25 near the Somali coast, exposing the harsh and cramped conditions they are enduring.

The footage shows around a dozen individuals confined to a small, suffocating cabin with barely any room to sit or lie down. There are no proper sleeping arrangements, and the overall condition of the space appears deteriorating, raising serious concerns about the hostages’ health and safety.

According to reports, the vessel was seized on April 21 by six armed pirates roughly 30 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia. The ship was carrying 17 crew members, including 11 Pakistani nationals — some believed to be from Karachi — along with a captain of Indonesian nationality.

Families of the hostages have expressed deep distress, with some reports also pointing to physical abuse. The pirates are reportedly demanding a ransom of $7 million for the crew’s release.

Nehal Hashmi has assured that the hostages have not been abandoned, stating that the government is actively working to secure their safe return. He added that coordination is ongoing with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Foreign Office, while Pakistan’s embassy remains engaged with international stakeholders, including European Union channels.

The incident has once again highlighted the persistent threat of piracy in the region and the vulnerabilities faced by maritime workers navigating high-risk waters.