India frees 31 Pakistan fishermen

On the eve of the New Year, India on Thursday announced the release of 31 Pakistani fishermen whose nationality has been confirmed by authorities in Islamabad.

The Ministry of External Affairs said here that these fishermen would be repatriated to Pakistan via Attari on January 2. The release of the remaining 19 Pakistani fishermen, whose nationality has been confirmed by Pakistan, is under process and is expected to materialise in the near future.

While New Delhi undertook this gesture, it hoped that Islamabad will take necessary steps at the earliest to release more than 500 Indian fishermen and over 400 Indian fishing boats still in Pakistan’s custody.