ISLAMABAD: having released 150 Indian fishermen in May, Pakistan announced on Monday that it had decided to release 57 Indian fishing boats under its custody as a goodwill gesture
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Modnay, the decision was taken after a nine-member Indian delegation visited Karachi from July 18 to July 20 to inspect the boats and discuss modalities for the release with officials of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA).
The boats require some minor repairs before they can be handed over despite PMSA’s efforts to keep the boats in good condition. To oversee the repairs before the boats are returned in mid-September, Indian officials will visit for a follow-up in August.
PMSA authorities often apprehend Indian fishermen and boats for violating Pakistan’s territorial waters. Mostly of the boats are not returned as they are not in seaworthy condition. However, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered that these boats should also be returned and hence, efforts are being undertaken by the PMSA to ensure that the boats are returned to their rightful owners.
The foreign office said that Pakistan views the issue of prisoners as a humanitarian one and continues to make efforts for their release as soon as their prison sentence has been completed.
Pakistan also calls upon India to adhere to the Consular Agreement of 2008 and recommendations of the Judicial Committee on Prisoners to release all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentence.
COMMENTS (7)
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I am very happy to see this. Now we need to strong our economy which can be possible if we both become unite. As we are having very strong PM Modi ji and Nawaz Sharif ji. They both are maintaining Indo Pak relation very well. Our upcoming generation needs Employment, Peace, Love, not guns and bomb. And Salman Please stop provoking people by saying ''What a shame'' etc because of u such people both countries are suffering. Please I am requesting you to change your mentality. We already spent many years while fighting each other. And conditions is infront of u. U can judge very well where we are!!
They are killing Pakistanis in cross border firing every second day and what this Govt is doing is busy in releasing illegal indian fishermen boating inside Pakistanis waters. What a shame.
Hopefully they can reciprocate?
For this, they have to let us join the BRICS bank thing.
This is a reasonable request i.e. to relase all prisoners whose sentence has been completed. It shpuld be honored by India.glad that these fishermen have been released. Hopefulky a permanent solution can be found with regards to fishermen because this is an ongoing problem.
The fishers of Pakistan and India have visa-fee trips to each other`s country in a rotation.
Good initiative by our side to promote peaceful relations.