ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to the United Kingdom on Monday, Aug. 24, for a five-day diplomatic mission, with strained maritime security, the fate of Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates and stronger Pakistan-UK ties high on his agenda.
During the trip, he is scheduled to meet British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty and other senior British officials.
The visit comes as Islamabad seeks to strengthen cooperation with London on security, law enforcement, migration and other issues of mutual interest.
🔈 PR No. 2️⃣2️⃣7️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Curtain Raiser: Visit of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 to the United Kingdom, 24-28 August 2026
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/M2zeBssVEb
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2026
One of Dar’s key priorities will be the situation involving Pakistani crew members reportedly held by Somali pirates aboard the oil tanker MT Honour 25. The Foreign Office said Dar will meet the secretary general of the International Maritime Organization to discuss the crew members’ safety and efforts to secure their release.
The tanker was seized by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland region on April 21. The vessel was carrying 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
The prolonged captivity has raised concern among the families of the detained Pakistanis, who have reportedly worried about worsening conditions aboard the vessel. The Foreign Office has reiterated the government’s commitment to securing the safe release of the Pakistani nationals.
The diplomatic trip comes as Pakistan and Britain continue working together on security and migration challenges. Their cooperation has recently included efforts to combat human smuggling, trafficking and illegal migration.
In June, the British High Commission announced an additional £8 million in funding for joint initiatives with Pakistan. The funding is aimed at strengthening border and visa systems, improving law enforcement against human smuggling and trafficking, supporting the return of people who do not have the right to remain in the UK and assisting communities vulnerable to illegal migration.
Dar’s visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both countries to discuss these pressing issues while expanding their broader partnership.
With the safety of Pakistani sailors, migration and regional security on the table, Dar’s UK mission carries significant diplomatic weight for Islamabad and its relationship with London.
