Pakistan to release 89 Indian fishermen

Pakistan to release 89 Indian fishermen

2011-04-11 21:47:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistan on Monday decided to release 89 Indian fishermen after India released 39 Pakistani fishermen.

The Pakistani prisoners released by India reached the Wagah border on Monday, while the 89 Indian prisoners will arrive at the border on Thursday, according to the Express Tribune.

On Sunday, Press Trust of India reported that 29 Pakistani prisoners will be released by the government by April 15.

The decisions came after Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani visited India and held talks with his counterpart over normalizing relations. Following the talks, Gopal Dass, who spent 27 years in a Pakistani jail after being convicted on charges of spying, was released on humanitarian grounds.

Both countries also recently held Home Secretary-level talks in an attempt to improve their bilateral relations. During the talks, both countries agreed that the Coast Guard of India and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) should work together on setting up a mechanism for the release of fishermen, who inadvertently cross the maritime boundary.

A total of 61 Indian fishermen were arrested by the PMSA for allegedly fishing in Pakistani waters last month. Last year, 442 Indian fishermen were freed after two Pakistani NGOs petitioned the Supreme Court for their release.

Pakistan and India arrest dozens of fishermen every year for violating their maritime boundary. Many of them remain in prison after completing their jail terms.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-11