Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that Pakistan facilitated the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals, including eight fishermen rescued at sea by a British vessel and 22 crew members from a vessel recently banned by US authorities.
In a post on X, FM Dar said the group included eight Iranian fishermen rescued by the British vessel MMA Valor after their boat ran aground, and 22 Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina.
He said both groups were expected to transit through Karachi in the coming days.
FM Dar said that Pakistan remained in close coordination with the Iranian, US and UK authorities to ensure safe transit and early return of the Iranian nationals to their homeland.
“Pakistan is happy to facilitate the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals,” Dar wrote on X.
He added that Pakistan remained committed to humanitarian cooperation and to extending “all possible assistance to our Iranian brothers”.
Pakistan is happy to facilitate the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals.
This includes 8 Iranian fishermen rescued at sea by the British vessel MMA Valor after their boat ran aground, and 22 Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina, which was recently banned by the US…
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) June 17, 2026
A day earlier, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the National Assembly that DPM Dar had already contacted his Somali counterpart to discuss the issue, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remained fully engaged and issued statements on the situation.
Read: The government is ‘pursuing’ the release of hostages in Somalia
Dar last week held a phone call with his Somali counterpart Abdisalam Abdi Ali to convey Pakistan’s “serious” concern over the situation and stressed the importance of ensuring the hostages’ well-being, their early release and safe repatriation.
Ali had assured Dar of Somalia’s “continued and sincere efforts” to secure the release of the hostages at the earliest opportunity.
Egyptian FM
Separately on Wednesday, Dar held a telephone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a telephone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
The two leaders exchanged views on the recent understandings reached between the United States and Iran and the upcoming… pic.twitter.com/5mDCSPMVTN
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) June 17, 2026
According to the statement, the two sides exchanged views on the latest understandings reached between the US and Iran, as well as the upcoming memorandum of understanding in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, scheduled for Friday.
They also discussed preparations for the upcoming Regional Four (R-4) foreign ministers’ meeting later this month.
Both ministers agreed to remain in close contact on issues of common interest and ongoing regional development.
