Pakistan releases first batch of 360 Indian fishermen

Pakistan releases first batch of 360 Indian fishermen
Pakistan announced to release the first batch of 360 Indian fishermen on Sunday. (Reuters)
Updated 07 April 2019

Pakistan releases first batch of 360 Indian fishermen

Pakistan releases first batch of 360 Indian fishermen
  • 100 prisoners will be handed over to Indian authorities at Wahga border crossing on Monday
  • Pakistani and Indian maritime agencies frequently arrest each other’s fishermen on charges of illegal fishing

KARACHI: Pakistani officials say they will release the first batch of 360 Indian prisoners detained for fishing illegally in the country’s territorial waters in the Arabian sea.
Prison official Munir Ahmed said Sunday that 100 prisoners will travel by train under police guard to the eastern city of Lahore before being handed over to Indian authorities at the Wahga border crossing Monday.
Pakistani and Indian maritime agencies frequently arrest each other’s fishermen on charges of illegal fishing. The detainees often languish in prison until such goodwill gestures are shown from either side.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry has said the remaining Indian prisoners will be released this month.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors flared up in February after a suicide bombing in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir killed more than 40 Indian soldiers.