Ishaq Dar's UK visit to press for release of Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit the United Kingdom from Aug. 24 to 28, with talks on the release of Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates expected to feature prominently, Pakistan's Foreign Office said Sunday.

Why is Ishaq Dar visiting the UK?

Dar's UK visit centers on securing the release of 10 Pakistani sailors held hostage aboard the MT Honour 25 oil tanker. He will raise the case with senior British officials and the International Maritime Organization, while also discussing the wider Pakistan-UK relationship during the five-day trip.

Dar will meet British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty and other senior UK government officials, the Foreign Office said in a statement. He will also meet the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization to discuss the case of Pakistani crew members being held by Somali pirates aboard the tanker.

The tanker, carrying 17 crew members including 10 Pakistanis, was hijacked by pirates near Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region on April 21. Families of the hostages have voiced growing alarm, saying conditions aboard the vessel have steadily deteriorated during the crew's captivity. The Foreign Office said the government remains committed to securing the release of the Pakistani nationals, adding urgency to Dar's discussions in London.

Who will Dar meet during the visit?

During his visit, Dar will also meet Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Foreign Office said. He is scheduled to engage with British parliamentarians and representatives of the British-Pakistani community as part of the trip.

What else is on Dar's agenda?

The trip comes about two months after Britain committed an additional £8 million ($10.8 million) to support joint efforts with Pakistan against crime and illegal migration. The British High Commission said on June 16 that UK Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hamish Falconer announced the funding during his visit to Islamabad.

The funding is intended to strengthen border and visa systems and improve law enforcement capabilities against people-smuggling and human-trafficking networks, according to the commission. It will also support the return of people with no right to remain in the UK and fund community-based programs in high-risk areas to address the root causes of illegal migration.

Dar's meetings are expected to cover the broader Pakistan-UK relationship, alongside cooperation on security, migration and other issues of mutual interest.