Pakistan frees Indians held over illegal fishing

A final batch of 60 Indian prisoners was released by Pakistan, making it a total of 360 Indian prisoners released so far. They were detained for fishing illegally in the Pakistan's territorial waters in the Arabian Sea.

Karachi:Pakistan has released a total of 360 Indian prisoners, mostly held over illegal fishing, after freeing a final batch of 60 prisoners on Sunday.

Three batches of 100 fishermen each were released over the last three weeks from Karachi's Landhi Jail where most had been detained for fishing illegally in the country's territorial waters in the Arabian Sea.

Pakistan had pledged to release the Indian prisoners a month ago.

All those who released were fishermen, except five who were detained for overstaying their visa, according to the head of the Edhi Foundation, a social welfare programme in Pakistan.

The 60 prisoners freed on Sunday will travel by train under police guard to the eastern city of Lahore before being handed over to Indian authorities at the Wahga-Attari border crossing on Monday.

Pakistani and Indian maritime agencies frequently arrest each other's fishermen on charges of illegal fishing.

The detainees often remain in prison until such goodwill gestures are shown from either side.

Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours flared up in February after a suicide bombing in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir killed more than 40 Indian soldiers.