New video footage released by crew members of the MT Honour 25 shows a group of men in visible physical decline, marking the first direct public appeal from the hijacked vessel in nearly two months. The messages, which surfaced on Sunday, come more than 100 days after Somali pirates seized the oil tanker, intensifying pressure on Islamabad to act as fears over the hostages' health grow. Main Developments Two separate video appeals, seen by Dawn, show the Pakistani and foreign hostages looking weak and visibly sick, with several appearing to be in severe physical distress. In the recordings, the men directly petition Pakistan's leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, to intervene before conditions deteriorate further. Hostage Yasir Khan reported that multiple crew members have fallen ill and lack access to any medication, warning that the situation could become fatal. He also made a direct plea to Jamaat-i-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, acknowledging his prior efforts and asking him to continue pushing for their freedom. Read also: Karachi: 33 arrested after mob clashes with police during anti-encroachment drive Another Pakistani crew member, Hussain Yousuf, expressed deep uncertainty about the future, noting that over 100 days have passed without any clarity on their fate. He urged the prime minister and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir to act swiftly to prevent what he described as "very bad news" from arriving. In response, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi acknowledged the hostages' suffering, calling the lack of release a source of grief. He confirmed that an inter-ministerial process is underway, involving the Ministry of Human Rights and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, with all agencies continuously monitoring the situation. Background The Palau-flagged tanker was hijacked on April 21 off the coast of Puntland, an autonomous region in northeastern Somalia, carrying a crew of 17 to 19 people. Among the hostages are 10 Pakistanis, seven Indonesians including the captain, plus one Indian and one Sri Lankan national. A ransom of approximately $3 million has been discussed, yet negotiations have reportedly stalled with no visible progress after three months. The crew has previously released emotional video and audio appeals describing shortages of clean water, food, and medicine, but those messages stopped after mid-June until this weekend's new footage. Complicating the case is an unresolved ownership dispute, as the ship's true owner has not been clearly identified. The man initially believed to be the owner is now thought to be a middleman who hired the crew, leaving the hostages in a precarious legal and operational limbo. Why It Matters The prolonged captivity highlights a growing crisis of maritime security in the Horn of Africa, where regional autonomy and tribal dynamics complicate rescue efforts. Andrabi noted that the operational steps needed for release are exceptionally complex because the captors operate within a tribal system involving influential Somali figures. For the families of the Pakistani hostages, the diplomatic hurdles translate into a daily wait for news, with the government's assurances offering little comfort as the crew's health reportedly declines. The case also raises questions about accountability for shipping companies and the protections afforded to seafarers working under unclear ownership structures. What's Next Pakistan's Foreign Office says it remains in constant contact with Somalia's government, regional authorities, and relevant international organisations, though no concrete timeline for resolution has been offered. The inter-ministerial group continues to explore options, but the spokesperson admitted that negotiating with the captors remains a major challenge. With the hostages' messages now resuming after a quiet period, observers will watch for any signs of renewed negotiation or third-party mediation. The families and the public await official updates, while the crew's deteriorating condition adds urgency to a standoff that shows few signs of breaking.