Relations on the mend: Pakistan frees 48 Indian fishermen

Release of the fishermen is part of an understanding to free citizens who mistakenly stray into each other’s waters.

KARACHI: Pakistan on Monday released 48 Indian fishermen, 10 of them teenagers, as a “goodwill gesture” following a visit by the Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. In a sign of thawing relations, Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar last week inked a historic agreement to ease visa restrictions between the two countries. The release of the fishermen is part of an understanding between the nuclear-armed rivals to free citizens who mistakenly stray into each other’s waters.Officials added they expect India would reciprocate Pakistan’s gesture by releasing more than 200 Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails. “We expect our neighbours will show similar spirit and release the Pakistani prisoners from their jails,” Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2012.