Ishaq Dar begins five-day UK visit to address maritime hostage crisis

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in the United Kingdom for a five-day official visit scheduled from August 24 to 28, 2026. A primary objective of the mission is to address the ongoing hostage crisis involving Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates.

Dar is scheduled to meet with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to discuss the safety and release of ten Pakistani sailors detained aboard the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker hijacked off the coast of Puntland, Somalia, in April.

In addition to maritime security discussions, Dar will hold meetings with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister of State Stephen Doughty, and Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. The visit also aims to strengthen bilateral ties regarding trade, counterterrorism, and cooperation against illegal migration and human smuggling.