Pakistan on Thursday released 218 Indian fishermen detained over the past twelve months.
Senior officials said this was a goodwill gesture aimed at confidence-building. This is the second batch of Indian fishermen to be released by Pakistan in less than two weeks. It earlier released 220 fishermen on December 25.
One fisherman Jeena Bhagwan died after a heart attack on Wednesday. His body will be handed over to the Indian authorities after a post-mortem in the presence of Indian embassy officials.
The fishermen have been taken to Lahore, where they will be handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border on Friday. They were given gifts and Rs. 500 each by volunteers of the Edhi Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.
Worsening ties
Pakistan-India relations have nosedived following attacks in Pathankot and Uri last year. India has accused Pakistan-based terrorists of carrying out the attack.
Pakistan, however, is not hopeful of any improvement in relations before April this year. “There are elections in Uttar Pradesh in February-March and we are not expecting revival of talks or dialogue,” a senior government official said.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been accused by the Opposition of being soft on its neighbour despite what they claimed is aggressive posturing.
