In a goodwill gesture, Pakistan on Sunday released 18 Indian fishermen, who were held for violating the territorial waters of the country, according to a media report.
The fishermen freed from Malir jail in Karachi would travel to Lahore by train and be handed over to India at Wagah border, The Express Tribune reported.
“They were violating the territory while fishing in the open sea,” said spokesperson of Maritime Security Agency (MSA).
Two boats seized
Two boats were also seized from the possession of the fishermen, he added.
Both Indian and Pakistani fishermen are often arrested for illegal fishing since the Arabian Sea border is not clearly defined and many boats lack the technology to fix their precise location.
After recent release
Recently, Pakistan released more than 300 Indian fishermen who had completed their term while over 400 others are currently in Karachi prisons.
The fishermen often languish in jail even after serving their term as poor diplomatic ties between the two countries mean fulfilling official requirements can take a long time, the report said.
