New Delhi’s decision to release only 88 of its detained fishermen has not gone down well with Pakistan, which has set free 113 Indian fishermen who were lodged in Karachi jail. On Thursday both India and Pakistan announced the release of detained fishermen as a goodwill gesture to mark the holy month of Ramadan.
During a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed India’s decision to release the fishermen so that they could be with their families for Ramadan.
Government sources in Islamabad told The Hindu that Pakistan is “surprised” by India’s decision to release 88 instead of 97 fishermen whose identity has been verified. There are 133 fishermen lodged in Indian jails, of which 97 have been identified by Pakistan, verification of 17 is underway and 19 have not be allowed consular access, Islamabad claims. “Why has India decided to not release all of the 97 is a mystery, it has surprised us. What is the fault of the remaining nine…what about their families?” an official from Islamabad told The Hindu .
The official said Pakistan wants India to allow consular access to the 17 detainees, and initiate the release of the remaining nine, so that they can be home before Eid.
Indian officials however said only 88 of the detained fishermen were verified and are being released.
“In April this year Pakistan released 173 fishermen and 67 boats, the gesture was not reciprocated,” the Pakistani official said.
