Government on Thursday promised to do "everything possible" for release of the Indian sailors held hostage by Somali pirates but cautioned against "emotive" response saying it could endanger their lives.

With opposition members cutting across party lines in Rajya Sabha expressing serious concern over the continuing hostage of the Indian sailors, external affairs minister S M Krishna said the government cannot afford to let the lives of the sailors held hostage in that country to be in jeopardy.

"There is no use getting worked up and getting emotive. Let us be very objective in our assessment of the situation. We will have to be restrained but at the same time we will have to pursue vigorously through back channels...there can not be any time limit," Krishna said during Zero Hour.

He also reminded the members that when the Americans tried to carry out an assault on some of the pirated ships to rescue their sailors held hostage, four of them were killed.

Raising the issue S S Ahuluwalia (BJP) said the deadline given by the Somali pirates for release of Indian sailors was coming to an end tomorrow and the government has not done anything to release them.

Referring to release of 11 Indian sailors held hostage by the Somali pirates, Ahluwalia said they were released by the efforts of the Spanish government.

He wondered if Spain could do it, why could India not take a proactive step when its navy and coast guards were so powerful.