Pakistan is in contact with the Somali government over a hostage crisis involving Pakistani sailors aboard an oil tanker hijacked near the Somali coast, the Foreign Office said. Last week armed pirates seized the vessel and took 11 Pakistani crew members and the Indonesian captain hostage, and authorities say the pirates are also in touch with the ship’s owner as negotiations continue.
FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters that hijackings off Somalia have raised concerns about a possible resurgence of opportunistic piracy in the Indian Ocean, recalling that attacks peaked in 2011 with incidents launched from far offshore. He stressed the importance of safeguarding maritime trade routes and reiterated Pakistan’s support for the early restoration of normal shipping flow in the region.
On the wider security front Andrabi highlighted the significance of the Strait of Hormuz as a key transit route for energy and goods, saying its closure affects the entire world. He noted that both new and old proposals remain on the table as diplomats work to bring the United States and Iran onto the same page and to seek an end to hostilities, expressing hope that negotiations will succeed to restore safe passage and stability.
Separately, following a raid on a so-called scamming compound in Cambodia, the Foreign Office confirmed the number of Pakistani nationals detained in the country has risen to 84, including 76 men and eight women. Cambodian authorities have granted the Pakistani Embassy consular access, and Deputy Head of Mission Bilal Mohsin met the detainees as officials provide food and medical care.
The FO said most of those detained travelled to Cambodia after being lured by fake job offers; some were found working illegally on tourist visas while others had overstayed. Cambodian authorities are considering waiving fines and earlier agreed to the early repatriation of 54 Pakistanis arrested in Siem Reap province. The embassy said returns are expected after legal proceedings conclude and urged citizens to remain cautious of fraudulent overseas job schemes as it works to secure Pakistani sailors and detained nationals abroad.
