According to diplomatic sources, the vessel, identified as the Honour 25, was attacked and seized by pirates on April 21 while operating near Somali waters.
The tanker’s 17-member crew included 10 Pakistani nationals, four Indonesians, one Indian and one Myanmar national, all of whom were taken hostage during the hijacking.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs had earlier confirmed the incident and said immediate efforts were launched to ensure the safe recovery of the crew.
However, despite weeks of negotiations, none of the hostages have been released. Sources said the vessel remains anchored off the Somali coast while talks continue.
According to diplomatic officials, the Somali government is communicating with the pirates through the ship’s owner in an effort to secure the crew’s freedom.
The pirates reportedly initially demanded a ransom of $10 million before reducing their demand to $4 million. Despite the reduction, negotiations have so far failed to produce an agreement.
Family members of the Pakistani crew have expressed growing concern over the deteriorating situation aboard the vessel and urged authorities to intensify efforts to bring the hostages home safely.
In a video message, Ambreen Yousuf, wife of the ship’s second engineer Shohar Hussain Yousuf, said her husband informed her that conditions on board were worsening.
She said the vessel’s engine had broken down and several crew members were becoming ill due to the prolonged captivity.
“We request the government to ensure the safe and early return of all Pakistani crew members,” she appealed.
Diplomatic sources said the Somali government had previously assured Pakistan that it was actively engaging with the pirates and had also formally communicated with Islamabad regarding the hostage situation.
The incident has revived concerns about a resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean region.
In a similar case in 2024, Somali pirates seized a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship and its 23 crew members. The vessel and hostages were eventually released after a ransom was reportedly delivered.
Piracy off Somalia s coast was at its peak in the late 2000s and early 2010s, with hundreds of attacks recorded annually. International naval patrols and improved security measures later reduced the threat significantly.
However, recent attacks have raised fears of a renewed wave of piracy. According to the Operation Atalanta, several piracy incidents were recorded off the Somali coast in recent months.
Security experts believe pirates may be exploiting gaps in maritime security created by the redeployment of international forces and growing instability in regional waters.
Earlier this year, another tanker was reportedly captured in the Gulf of Aden by a newly emerged pirate group operating from Garacad, a port town in Somalia’s Puntland region.
With negotiations still deadlocked, the fate of the hostages aboard Honour 25 remains uncertain as families continue to wait for progress in efforts to secure their release.
