All We Know So Far: Somali Pirates Hijack Tanker With Pakistani Crew Onboard

An oil tanker hijacking near the Somali coast has raised fresh concerns over maritime security in the Gulf of Aden, after reports confirmed that armed pirates seized a vessel carrying Pakistani crew members while it was passing through one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

The ship, identified in initial reports as Owner 25, was reportedly attacked at sea and taken over by armed men believed to be Somali pirates. On board were 11 Pakistani crew members along with an Indonesian captain, all of whom were taken hostage during the incident. The vessel was later redirected after the hijacking, and contact with the crew was lost soon after.

So far, details remain limited, but early information suggests the tanker was operating in a high-risk maritime zone where piracy threats have historically been active. While international naval presence in the region had previously reduced such incidents, this latest hijacking has once again highlighted how vulnerable commercial routes in the area still are.

Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Ministry has confirmed it is actively tracking the situation. Officials have requested a full report and are in coordination with the Foreign Office, Pakistan Navy, and other relevant departments. Efforts are also underway to reach out to Somali authorities and international maritime organisations to help secure the safe return of the crew.

Families of the Pakistani sailors have said they last had contact with their loved ones shortly before communication was cut off. They have expressed deep concern over their safety and are urging authorities to speed up rescue efforts.

At this stage, there is no confirmed information about the ownership of the vessel or the identity of the attackers. However, the incident is being treated as a piracy-related hijacking, and diplomatic as well as maritime channels remain engaged.

Why Somali Pirates Hijacked the Tanker

Piracy off the Somali coast is not a new threat, but its recent resurgence is being driven by a mix of old motives and new global instability. At its core, Somali piracy has historically been financially motivated. Armed groups typically hijack commercial vessels, take control of the crew, and demand ransom payments from shipping companies or governments. This ransom-based model became especially profitable during the late 2000s, when piracy peaked in the region and global shipping lanes passing through the Horn of Africa were highly exposed.

Although international naval patrols significantly reduced these attacks over the past decade, the underlying conditions that enabled piracy — weak coastal governance, poverty in coastal communities, and organized armed networks — have not fully disappeared. In recent incidents, reports also suggest more structured “pirate action groups” operating with better coordination, sometimes supported by onshore networks that help sustain longer hijacking operations at sea.

What makes the current situation more concerning is the wider geopolitical and maritime instability across nearby waters. The Middle East conflict and rising tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States have already disrupted major global shipping corridors. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints — has forced significant rerouting of maritime traffic, increasing pressure on alternative routes like the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the waters near Somalia. At the same time, continued threats in the Red Sea from Houthi-linked attacks have already pushed shipping companies into longer, riskier detours around the Horn of Africa.

With international naval forces stretched across multiple hotspots and resources diverted toward the Red Sea and Arabian Sea security concerns, piracy groups appear to be exploiting the reduced surveillance in Somali waters. This combination of economic motive and weakened maritime enforcement is what is creating fears of a broader resurgence in attacks on commercial shipping in the region.

For now, the situation remains active and unresolved, with 11 Pakistani nationals still believed to be held hostage as authorities continue efforts to trace the vessel and secure their release.

Sources: Dawn, Express Tribune

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