Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reached London on Sunday for a five-day official visit spanning Aug. 24-28.
Upon his arrival to London Heathrow Airport, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the U.K. Tipu Usman received Dar.
According to the Foreign Office, the foreign minister is scheduled to meet U.K. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and FCDO Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty, as well as other senior members of the U.K. government. It said Dar would also meet the International Maritime Organization secretary-general to discuss the issue of Pakistani crewmembers held by Somali pirates aboard the MT Honour 25 oil tanker.
The MT Honour 25 was hijacked by pirates near Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on April 21. It is carrying 17 crewmembers, including 10 Pakistanis. Families of the hostages have repeatedly called for their release, saying conditions on board have steadily deteriorated.
In its statement, the Foreign Office said the deputy prime minister would also meet Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey during his U.K. visit. He is also slated to engage with British parliamentarians and representatives of the British-Pakistani community.