Summary A key issue on Dar’s agenda will be the situation of Pakistani crew members being held by Somali pirates
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to the United Kingdom on Monday for a five-day official visit aimed at advancing Pakistan-UK relations and discussing issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said on Sunday.
Dar will hold talks with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty during his stay, according to the FO.
The deputy prime minister is also scheduled to meet other senior British government officials.
A key issue on Dar’s agenda will be the situation of Pakistani crew members being held by Somali pirates. The Foreign Office said he would meet the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation to discuss the matter.
The crew members are aboard the oil tanker MT Honour 25, which was seized by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland region on April 21. The vessel has 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
PR No. 2️⃣2️⃣7️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2026
Curtain Raiser: Visit of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 to the United Kingdom, 24-28 August 2026
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Families of the detained Pakistanis have expressed concern over the prolonged captivity and the reported deterioration in conditions aboard the vessel.
The Foreign Office reiterated the government’s commitment to securing the safe release of the Pakistani nationals.
During his UK visit, Dar will also meet Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. His engagements will further include meetings with British parliamentarians and representatives of the Pakistani community.
The visit comes as Pakistan and the UK continue cooperation on issues including security, law enforcement and illegal migration.
In June, the British High Commission announced an additional £8 million in funding for joint efforts with Pakistan to tackle crime and illegal migration.
The funding is intended to strengthen border and visa systems, improve law-enforcement capabilities against human smuggling and trafficking, facilitate the return of people without the right to remain in the UK, and support community-based initiatives in areas vulnerable to illegal migration.
