(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Pakistani authorities on Friday released 337 Indian fishermen from a Karachi prison, despite a recent spike in tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) in disputed Kashmir region.
The released fishermen were sent to Lahore on buses, from where they will be handed over to the Indian authorities on Saturday at the Wagah border crossing, officials said.
Pakistan and India regularly release fishermen who are detained after straying into each other's territorial waters. But tension is particularly high right now between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three major wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
According to a Karachi prison official, some 97 Indian prisoners are still in the prison in Karachi.The two sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating a cease-fire along the Kashmir border in recent weeks. Five Indian soldiers have been reported killed, along with three Pakistani troops and a pair of Pakistani civilians.
The most recent deaths came on Thursday, when the Pakistani military accused Indian troops of carrying out "unprovoked" firing across the border and killing two Pakistani soldiers. A third Pakistani soldier was killed on Tuesday night.
In each case, the Indian army said its troops only responded after receiving fire from the Pakistani side. Mohammed Rafique, an Indian fisherman who had been in prison for over six months, criticised Pakistan for arresting him.
"There are no lines, signs or signals for borders which cross the water. As a result we drift from one side to the other," said Rafique as he was being released. "Indian coast guards and the Pakistan navy should question us on the spot and should pardon and release us after issuing a warning. We are paying heavily for a small mistake."
Following the release, 97 Indian fishermen remain in jails in Karachi, said Mirza, the prison official.
India's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Syed Akbaruddin, said India has far fewer Pakistani prisoners and has no imminent plans to release any. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed hope that the recent violence on the LoC wouldn't derail efforts to improve relations between the two countries. He is especially keen to increase cross-border trade to jumpstart Pakistan's economy.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.