(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Pakistan released 151 indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture ahead of sharif?s visit to new delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of modi.
as a goodwill measure to mark the swearing-in of prime minister narendra modi both sri lanka and pakistan on sunday have ordered the release of indian fishermen in their custody.
pakistan frees 151 indian prisoners
pakistan released 151 indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture ahead of prime minister nawaz sharif’s visit to new delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of indian prime minister-elect narendra modi officials said.
authorities said that 59 were freed from malir jail in karachi and 92 from nara jail hyderabad and they have been sent in air-conditioned bus to lahore where pakistan authorities would hand them over to indian officials at the wagah border check post monday the news international reported.
the freed indian fishermen expressed their gratitude to pakistani authorities for providing them all necessary facilities including food and healthcare in prisons.
they also appealed to the indian government for release of pakistani fishermen similarly held in indian prisons for straying across the maritime boundary between the two countries.
pakistan and india routinely arrest fishermen from entering each other’s territorial waters for fishing
sri lanka frees indian prisoners
sri lanka has also decided to release all indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture to mark modi’s swearing-in ceremony the president’s office said.
modi will take oath as the new indian prime minister on monday and sri lanka’s president mahinda rajapaksa is among the guests invited for the event despite strong protests from south indian political parties xinhua reported.
rajapaksa is expected to have bilateral talks with the new indian prime minister on tuesday a day after modi is sworn-in.
syed akbaruddin india’s external affairs ministry spokesman said that modi is expected to have short meetings with all the visiting heads of delegations scheduled to attend his swearing-in ceremony monday.
akbaruddin said the invitation was sent by the indian government on the basis that sri lanka is a close and friendly neighbour.
tamil political parties in tamil nadu werehowever insisting that modi should reconsider the invitation to rajapaksa alleging that he is responsible for the deaths of tamils in northern sri lanka during the final stages of the war between the army and tamil tiger rebels.
politicians in tamil nadu have also accused the sri lankan government of mistreating indian fishermen arrested for crossing into sri lankan waters illegally.
the fishermen issue has been a long standing one and talks held recently under the previous indian government to resolve the issue had failed.
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