In the past, 198 Indian fishermen who had been detained by Pakistani officials in Karachi for allegedly fishing without a licence were freed.
As a humanitarian gesture, Pakistan would free three civilian inmates and 200 Indian fisherman, according to foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s announcement on Friday.”
Today, Pakistan is releasing 200 Indian fishermen and 3 civilian prisoners. Earlier, 198 Indian fishermen were repatriated on 12 May 2023,” Bhutto Zardari added in a tweet.”
This is in line with Pakistan’s policy of not politicising humanitarian matters. Compassion should take precedence over politics,” he further added.
The new development was confirmed by the Edhi Foundation, which pays for the released inmates’ flights from Karachi to Lahore.“
The prisoners will be handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border,” an official averred.
According to sources, Pakistan will release a further group of Indian fishermen in July as a sign of goodwill.
Rival fishermen are sometimes detained by Pakistan and India for crossing the maritime border, which is sometimes not well delineated.
