Pakistani hostages aboard MT Honour 25 release new distress message to government after 100 days of captivity.

Crew members aboard the Palau‑flagged oil tanker MT Honour 25, which was hijacked off the coast of Puntland, Somalia, on 21 April, released a new distress message after more than 100 days of captivity. The vessel carried 17 to 19 crew, including 10 Pakistanis, 7 Indonesians (the captain included), an Indian, and a Sri Lankan. The hostages were held by armed Somali pirates and have not been released after three months of negotiation attempts. A ransom of around $3 million is reportedly required, but no payment has been made yet. In video appeals shown on Dawn, the Pakistani crew appear severely ill and weak, lacking medicine and clean water. They asked the Pakistani government to engage with the pirates for their release before their health deteriorates further. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said an inter‑ministerial process involving the Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and other agencies is ongoing. The main challenge, he noted, is that the captors are located in an autonomous region of Somalia, complicating negotiations. The situation remains a priority for Pakistan, which is in constant contact with Somalia’s government, authorities and relevant international organisations.