KARACHI: Pakistan on Sunday released 220 Indian fishermen held for trespassing into its territorial waters as a gesture of goodwill to its nuclear-armed rival India, officials said.
Karachi’s Malir prison Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said, “We released 220 Indian fishermen today as a goodwill gesture, while 219 are still in Pakistani custody.”
The freed fishermen are expected to cross over into India on Monday.
Indian and Pakistani fishermen are frequently detained for illegal fishing since the Arabian Sea border is not clearly defined and many boats lack the technology to gauge their precise location.
The fishermen often languish in jail, even after serving their terms, as poor diplomatic ties between the two neighbours mean fulfilling bureaucratic requirements can take a long time.
