Islamabad (WD) — Pakistan is intensifying diplomatic efforts to secure the release of several of its citizens being held by Somali pirates, as the prolonged captivity places growing emotional and psychological pressure on the crew members and their families thousands of miles away.

The Pakistani nationals were members of the crew of a vessel that was hijacked off the Somali coast and are believed to have fallen into the hands of Somali piracy networks seeking a ransom for their release.

For the families of those being held, however, the negotiations are about far more than money. They are waiting anxiously for news of loved ones whose safety remains uncertain, with every day in captivity bringing renewed fear and uncertainty.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said it remains actively engaged in efforts to secure the crew’s release and expressed hope that ongoing diplomatic contacts will eventually produce a safe outcome.

A ministry spokesperson said Pakistan has been communicating with the Somali Federal Government and other relevant authorities in an effort to coordinate the release of the hostages. But Islamabad acknowledges that the situation is complicated by the location where the crew members are being held.

According to the Pakistani government, the hostages are believed to be in an area administered by Puntland, a Federal Member State of Somalia that maintains its own security and administrative structures and has frequently had political disagreements with the Federal Government in Mogadishu. That fragmented political and security environment has complicated international efforts to respond to incidents along Somalia’s coastline.

“One of the challenges in securing the release of the crew is that they are being held in an area that is self-administered within Somalia, which makes efforts to secure their safe release from the pirates more difficult,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

Despite the difficulties, Islamabad says it has not abandoned efforts to bring the crew home. Pakistani officials said they have maintained contacts with the Somali Federal Government, Puntland authorities and other parties capable of influencing the situation, seeking a coordinated approach that could secure the hostages’ safe release.

The case also highlights the continuing vulnerability of commercial shipping along Somalia’s long coastline, where piracy, although dramatically reduced from the peak of the piracy crisis more than a decade ago, remains a serious threat whenever security conditions deteriorate.

For the families of the Pakistani crew, those broader geopolitical and security questions are painfully personal. They are waiting for husbands, fathers, sons and brothers to return home.

While diplomats negotiate and authorities navigate Somalia’s complex political landscape, the fate of the crew remains uncertain. Their families can only hope that the ongoing contacts will lead to a breakthrough—and that the men will ultimately return home safely.

For Islamabad, the priority is clear: secure the crew’s freedom without further endangering their lives. For their families, the objective is even simpler—to hear that their loved ones are finally coming home.

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