Efforts are on to release 79 Indian sailor still in custody of Somali pirates. The deadline set by the pirates for the execution of eight hostages expired on Wednesday. External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna assured the Lok Sabha that the government is doing everything possible for the release of Indian sailor. He said, 215 Indians were among those whose ships had been captured by the pirates and 136 of them were released. Mr. Krishna said, at present there are 79 Indians on seven ships that are in the custody of Somali pirates. Mr Krishna said there is a transitional government in Somalia and his Ministry has taken up the issue with the President of that government and he has assured Indian government all help. The Minister said he has held talks with the Egyptian Ambassador to India who has promised all assistance for safe and quick release of the hostages. The Indian envoys in Egypt and Dubai are also making efforts in this regard. Earlier Somali Pirates have released eleven Indians alongwith a ship, nearly eleven months after they were hijacked in Seychelles waters after prolonged negotiations. Twelve persons of other nationalities were also released. Sources in the Shipping Ministry said that the ship 'MV Rak Afrikana' and its crew members have been freed but the ship is still in the Somali waters. The ship has developed some technical snag and will take some time to sail again. MV Rak Africana was seized approximately 280 nautical miles west of the Seychelles on 11th April, 2010 with 23 crew members on board. Voicing concern over heightened activities of pirates, the US said it looked at India as a possible strategic partner in checking the menace. US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said in New Delhi that the US has also been affected by piracy as four of its citizens were killed recently.