‘Crew Safe’: FO says in touch with Somali over sailors held hostage by pirates

• FO spokesperson says Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti contacted Somali authorities

• Vessel carrying 17 crew, including 11 Pakistanis, remains anchored off Eyl after pirate seizure

• Strait of Hormuz closure threatens global oil and trade flows, warns FO

• Says diplomatic push continues to sustain Gulf ceasefire and revive negotiations

• Informs number of Pakistanis detained in Cambodia rises to 84 after scam-compound raid

• Says Pakistani embassy secures consular access as 54 detainees cleared for early repatriation

 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday said it was in close contact with the Somali government over the hostage crisis involving Pakistani sailors aboard a hijacked oil tanker, expressing confidence that the crew members were “safe and secure.”

Addressing the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistani authorities were actively engaging with Somali officials, while the pirates remained in contact with the vessel’s owner.

🔊 Transcript of the Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson Thursday, April 30, 2026 https://t.co/2YFuQtxOdb
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/EuHJKdoUCb

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 30, 2026

Last week, armed pirates hijacked the oil tanker Honor 25 off Somalia’s southeastern coast on April 21 while it was carrying oil to the Puntland region. The vessel was carrying 17 crew members, including 11 Pakistanis and an Indonesian captain.

The hijacking has renewed concerns over a possible resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean, where Somali pirate attacks peaked in 2011, with gunmen launching raids as far as 3,655 kilometres from the Somali coast.

The incident has also come amid heightened regional tensions and disruptions to key maritime shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

Andrabi said Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti had established contact with Somali authorities, including the foreign ministry, and had been informed that the vessel was anchored off the coast of Eyl in Puntland.

“We have fair reason to believe that our crew members are safe and secure,” he said, adding that the Somali foreign ministry had remained fully cooperative and was closely monitoring the situation.

According to the Foreign Office, Somali authorities had assured Pakistan that any updates regarding the vessel and the safety of the crew would be communicated promptly.

“They are trying their best to ensure that the safety and well-being of our detained Pakistanis and all crew members are taken care of,” Andrabi said, adding that local authorities and the ship’s owner remained engaged with the pirates.

Regional diplomacy and Gulf tensions

The Foreign Office also highlighted Pakistan’s continuing diplomatic engagement over the broader regional situation, saying contacts among the concerned parties had continued following a ceasefire initiative.

Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson @TahirAndrabi

On Iran-USA Talks, Status of Peace Process and Proposals pic.twitter.com/yCiLovcm6q

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 30, 2026

“Let me underscore that these talks started after the call for a ceasefire by Pakistan, by our prime minister, that was very graciously accepted by both parties,” the spokesperson said.

He said the ceasefire had opened a crucial window for substantive diplomacy, including dialogue between the two sides.

The Foreign Office said the ceasefire had helped halt hostilities in the Gulf region, preventing further loss of life and damage to infrastructure, while creating space for sustained diplomatic engagement.

“This paved the way for the talks,” it said, adding that discussions initiated in Islamabad had been followed by continued diplomatic outreach.

“The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. We remain hopeful of a negotiated settlement of this issue and will continue our sincere efforts for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” the Foreign Office said.

Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson @TahirAndrabi

On Iran - USA Talks pic.twitter.com/QvoOT9Wbf0

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 30, 2026

Commenting on the disruption in maritime routes, Andrabi described the Strait of Hormuz as a vital artery for global maritime trade and oil shipments, reiterating Pakistan’s support for the early restoration of normal shipping activity.

“The closure of the Strait of Hormuz affects the entire world,” he said.

He said keeping the waterway open remained essential for global energy supplies, trade flows and the movement of goods, expressing hope that negotiations would succeed in restoring normalcy.

“We are in contact with the relevant parties on the matter. Regarding negotiations, both new and old proposals are on the table. We hope peace will prevail,” Andrabi said, referring to diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the United States and Iran closer to a negotiated settlement and ending hostilities.

Pakistanis detained in Cambodia

Separately, the Foreign Office said the number of Pakistani nationals detained in Cambodia following a raid on a “scamming compound” had risen to 84, including 76 men and eight women.

Andrabi said all Pakistani nationals were safe and that Cambodian authorities had assured full cooperation.

He said the Pakistani embassy had been granted consular access to the detainees.

Deputy Head of Mission Bilal Mohsin had met the detained Pakistanis, while Cambodian authorities were providing food and medical facilities to them, the spokesperson added.

He said most of the detainees had travelled to Cambodia after being lured through fake overseas job offers.

Some had been found working illegally after entering on tourist visas, while others had overstayed their permitted duration, he said.

The spokesperson said Cambodian authorities were considering waiving fines and that the repatriation of Pakistani nationals was expected after the completion of legal proceedings.

He urged citizens to remain cautious of fraudulent overseas employment schemes.

In an earlier statement, the Foreign Office had said Cambodian authorities had agreed to the early repatriation of 54 Pakistanis arrested in the raid on the scamming compound in Siem Reap Province.

The statement followed reports that more than 200 Pakistanis were being held by Cambodian police in overcrowded detention facilities and facing shortages of basic amenities.

“As a result of the embassy’s efforts, the host authorities have agreed to the early repatriation of 54 Pakistani nationals detained in Siem Reap province. These individuals were arrested following a raid on a scamming compound,” the Foreign Office said.