Pakistan To Release 200 Indian Fishermen, 3 Civilian Prisoners, Says Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto

After releasing 198 Indian fishermen last month on May 12, Pakistan announced the release of 200 more fishermen who were languishing in Pakistani jails.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced on Friday the release of 200 Indian fishermen and three civilian prisoners as a humanitarian gesture, reported news agency PTI. This came after Pakistani authorities released 198 Indian fishermen last month on May 12, who were languishing in a prison in Karachi after being arrested for allegedly fishing illegally in the country’s waters. The prisoners were later handed over to India at the Wagah border. In a Tweet, Bhutto Zardari said, "Today, Pakistan is releasing 200 Indian fishermen and 3 civilian prisoners. Earlier, 198 Indian fishermen were repatriated on 12 May 2023.”

Edhi Foundation, which provides funds for the travel cost of released prisoners from Karachi to Lahore, confirmed the latest development. An official, as quoted by PTI, said, “The prisoners will be handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border.”

Pakistan will also release another batch of Indian fishermen in July as a goodwill gesture, reported PTI citing sources. This comes amid the regular arrest of rival fishermen from Pakistan and Indian sides for violating the maritime boundary. This is because the boundary is poorly marked at some points. 

According to the former general secretary of Pakistan India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) Jatin Desai, all the 200 prisoners languishing in Pakistani jails were released from Karachi’s Malir Jail, reported The Indian Express.

As mentioned earlier, a separate batch of 198 Indian fishermen were released from Landi Jail and had crossed the Wagah border last month. They reached Gujarat.

A total of 654 Indian fishermen are languishing in Karachi jails, while an estimated 83 Pakistani fishermen are in Indian jails. Out of the 654 Indian fishermen, 631 have completed their sentences and are awaiting repatriation.

Earlier, Pakistan had said it would release 499 of the 654 Indian fishermen languishing in several jails in the Islamic country, reported The Indian Express.

Both India and Pakistan have had their disagreements over the alignment of the notional International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) on the Arabian Sea in the past.