Pakistan frees 68 Indian fishermen held for trespassing

Published October 29, 2017
Indian fisherman released from Malir jail shows his travelling card at a railway station in Karachi. —AFP
Indian fisherman released from Malir jail shows his travelling card at a railway station in Karachi. —AFP

Pakistan on Sunday released 68 Indian fishermen held for reportedly trespassing into its territorial waters, officials said.

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 fix their precise location.

Indian fishermen released from Malir jail wave from train at a railway station in Karachi.—AFP
Indian fishermen released from Malir jail wave from train at a railway station in Karachi.—AFP

“The fishermen were released from Karachi's Malir jail,” Afaq Rizvi, a senior official from the prison, told AFP. He said 380 Indian fishermen remained behind bars in the country.

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.

In July Pakistan released 78 Indian fishermen held for trespassing into its territorial waters.

Indian fishermen released from Malir jail arrive at a railway station in Karachi. —AFP
Indian fishermen released from Malir jail arrive at a railway station in Karachi. —AFP

Tensions between the South Asian rivals have been high since an Indian crackdown on dissent in India-held Kashmir following the killing by Indian forces of Burhan Wani, a young separatist leader, in July. There have since been repeated incidents of cross-border firing, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule seven decades ago. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...