Pakistani rapper Talha Anjum urged the Foreign Office on Thursday to set up a helpline for families of 11 Pakistani seafarers held in Somalia.
Anjum addressed Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi in an X post. He said the families deserved direct updates instead of occasional public statements.
The rapper said the seafarers had been stranded for 45 days without help, food or essential supplies. He asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assign a dedicated official or committee to the case.
Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson @TahirAndrabi
On Violation of Indus Water Treaty by India pic.twitter.com/UrUPmd4gCX
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) June 4, 2026Andrabi said at the weekly Foreign Office briefing that Pakistan was in contact with the ship owners and Somalia’s government. He said the owners were negotiating for the crew’s release.
The Foreign Office said the vessel’s location, geographic conditions and explosive cargo made any rescue operation difficult.
Pakistan also asked Somali authorities and ship owners to press the pirates for food, water and supplies.
Read: Death toll from blasts in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu rises to 85
Earlier reports said armed pirates seized the tanker Honour 25 off Somalia on April 21 with 11 Pakistanis among the crew.
