Pakistani hostages still in detention of Somali Pirates

[flameboard]

The permanent solution would be a set up a proper Soomali Navy, and stop foregn fishing ships from crossing into soomlia and depleting the marine wildlife. Instead of fighting the disease we are fighting the symptoms.

 

[S.U.R.B.]

Kidnapped Pakistanis: Pirates demand $20 million in ransom for four sailors


ISLAMABAD:
Somali pirates have threatened to kill four Pakistani hostages if $20 million in ransom is not paid to them by March 15, officials revealed.

“Efforts for the early release of Pakistanis captured by Somali pirates are in the final stages,” a senior official of Foreign Office Haroon Shaukat informed a Senate panel here on Saturday.
Eleven Pakistanis, travelling on vessels of various nationalities, have been in custody of Somali pirates since March 2010, Shaukat informed the Senate standing committee on interior.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the poor performance of officials from ministries of foreign affairs and ports and shipping, who did not adopt measures for the early release of Pakistani citizens.
They directed the ministries to take up the issue with other states to whom the captured ships belonged.
Officials informed the committee that four Pakistanis were onboard an Egyptian vessel that was captured by Somali pirates last year. Another ship from Malaysia carrying five Pakistanis was hijacked by the pirates on November 26, 2010 while two more Pakistanis were among hostages of a hijacked ship belonging to the UAE on March 26, 2010. Companies that own these ships were negotiating with pirates to release their crew members, Shaukat said.
“It is difficult for Pakistan to negotiate with Somali government as there is no permanent government in Somalia,” he said, adding the Foreign Office was in contact with the governments of Egypt, UAE and Malaysia for the release of Pakistani nationals.
The committee directed the Foreign Office to stay in constant contact with those states whose ships were captured by the pirates for ransom, and demanded concerted, global action against piracy on the high seas.
Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood, who chaired the meeting, said efforts must be made to have Captain Wasi and the crew members of ocean liner ‘MV SUEZ’ released as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the senators also spoke about the missing persons in Pakistan and directed the interior ministry to submit a detailed report on the issue within three days.
Additional Secretary Interior Nasir Hayat said that hundreds of missing persons have been traced since the judicial commission was constituted.

Kidnapped Pakistanis: Pirates demand $20 million in ransom for four sailors – The Express Tribune

 

[S.U.R.B.]

It's great to see them getting released ......6 Indians and 4 Pakistanis.I wish they live a happy life ahead.

 

[sEoulman556]

these pirates have become a menace for everyone.....In the very beginning, i had some sympathy for them --at least the ones who were former fishermen whose waters were being polluted by all the international transit. But now, this is beyond ridiculous. They arent petty thieves with a few small arms. They are heavily armed and increasingly sophisticated --(no) thanks to all the ransom moneys that have already been payed to them

I think that once Pakistani Navy can spare some patrol vessels, we should get involved with counter-piracy operations and sea patrolling. We can't be having our nationals constantly endangered by these pathetic crooks.

this is partly the result of Somalia's lack of government for over a generation now; and my worry is that piracy will become a global menace like terrorism. Already some Yemeni nationals are known to be collaborating with the Somali pirates. This is a problem. It must be nipped in the bud

YES!!!! Thank you, this is the first time I've ever agreed with a Pakistani!!! The Pakistani Navy, the Turkish Navy, and the ROKN should do joint patrols in those areas and send a deliberate message to these simple mercs. This issue has been left alone for too long.

 

[Neptune]

@sEoulman556 my Korean brother, I heard that ROKN was also patrolling there. Plus, TN had commanded both international and NATO task forces many times in there. We gave it a break after being in there for 6 years!!! Lol

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

YES!!!! Thank you, this is the first time I've ever agreed with a Pakistani!!!

well you must be quite new the forum, inntatentive or just never met a single one in REAL life because most of us view SoKo as a friendly nation with whom we have much cooperation in certain areas --economic & defense

The Pakistani Navy, the Turkish Navy, and the ROKN should do joint patrols in those areas and send a deliberate message to these simple mercs. This issue has been left alone for too long.

well some of these navies were and still are actively cooperating in this regard.....

until a few years ago, Pakistani Turkish British American German and Canadian were leading the Combined Task Force 150. Anti Piracy and counter terrorism were at the top of the agenda.

Currently, Pakistan's is leading the Combined Task Force 151 - which focuses on anti-piracy with HQ in Bahrain. Leading the 25 member international task force is a Pakistani Commodore (Mohammad Qadir) of the Pakistani Navy.


and yes - the issue of piracy is highly an irritant and a danger to businesses and crewman in international waters just doing their job......i think we also need to focus on improving economic and social conditions for Somalians; their fishing industry was damaged because of all the ships that pass near its waters. Water was sometimes contaminated with oil, diesel fuel.

So while piracy is a grave problem and these pirates show no mercy and are getting more superior arms and communication/GPS equipments --- their social issue or some re-compensation should be offered to them. Hopefully ground conditions improve there so they dont feel compelled to become pirates (criminals) who engage in armed robbery and put their lives and others' in danger

doing the latter is the job of UN agencies. The Combined Task Forces however will ensure the waters are kept safe and free from pirates -- through coercion and detaining suspects, or armed action if/when needed.

 

[Nishan_101]

I am sure PN has SSG(N) as well as Marines being trained thoroughly for such Anti-Piracy roles, so will GoP order them to go and release the hostages???

 

[muse]

I am sure PN has SSG(N) as well as Marines being trained thoroughly for such Anti-Piracy roles, so will GoP order them to go and release the hostages???

Get real, they can't keep themselves safe, they will keep poor Pakistanis with no Islamist credentials safe?? Now if they had Islamist credentials, then maybe