Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will begin a five-day official visit to the United Kingdom on Monday, with the fate of ten Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates high on his agenda. The Foreign Office confirmed the trip on Sunday, framing it as a push to deepen Pakistan-UK relations and address pressing mutual concerns.
Piracy Crisis Tops Diplomatic Agenda
Dar is scheduled to meet UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Stephen Doughty, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister of State for Pakistan. However, the most urgent item involves the crew of the oil tanker MT Honour 25, seized off Somalia’s Puntland region on April 21.
The vessel carries 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistani nationals. Families of the detained sailors have voiced growing alarm over the prolonged captivity and worsening conditions aboard the ship. Dar plans to meet the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation in London to press for action.
The Foreign Office reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to securing the safe release of all Pakistani nationals. The meeting signals a more direct diplomatic push after weeks of relative silence on the case.
Broadening the Bilateral Agenda
Beyond the piracy crisis, Dar’s itinerary includes talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, British parliamentarians, and representatives of the Pakistani diaspora. The visit builds on existing cooperation in security, law enforcement, and illegal migration.
In June, the British High Commission announced an additional £8 million in funding for joint efforts with Pakistan. The money targets border and visa system upgrades, stronger law-enforcement capacity against human smuggling and trafficking, and community-based initiatives in areas vulnerable to illegal migration.
What to Watch
- Whether Dar secures concrete commitments from the IMO on the MT Honour 25 crew.
- Any new agreements on repatriation or migration enforcement.
- Signals on future trade or security partnerships between Islamabad and London.
The visit runs from August 24 to 28. It marks one of the most significant diplomatic engagements between the two countries this year, with the piracy case giving the trip an unusual urgency.
