Families demand release of Pakistani crew captured by Somali pirates
Families of Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates have demanded urgent intervention by their government and international organisations to secure their release, Al Jazeera reported. The incident is seen as part of a recent uptick in Indian Ocean piracy.
Families of Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates have called on their government and international organisations to act urgently to secure their release. According to Al Jazeera, the families gathered in Karachi to demand information on the status of negotiations and on the seafarers' welfare.
The pirates are holding the captured commercial crew at unsecured ports along the Somali coast after seizing their vessel in the Indian Ocean. International maritime security analysts say piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast have climbed noticeably in recent months, prompting EU- and NATO-linked naval missions to review their scope.
Pakistan's foreign ministry said it is in contact with the families and that diplomatic channels remain open through Somali authorities and regional partners. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime warned that the cost of ransom demands on the shipping sector has begun rising again.
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