Freed from Pak jail, 220 Indian fishermen crosses over into India to reunite with their anxious families

About 200 more Indian fishermen are still reportedly languishing in different Pakistani jails.

New Delhi: Two-hundred twenty Indian fishermen who have been released from a Pakistani jail crossed over into India through the Wagah border on Monday in a joyous and momentous homecoming for their anxious families.

Pakistan on Sunday released the fishermen held for trespassing into its territorial waters as a "goodwill gesture". But some 200 more Indian fishermen are still languishing in Pakistani jails.

"We released 220 Indian fishermen today (Sunday) as a goodwill gesture," Deputy Superintendent of Karachi's Malir prison Hassan Sehto said.

Indian and Pakistani fishermen are frequently detained for illegal fishing since the Arabian Sea border is not clearly defined and many boats lack the technology to fix their precise location.

The fishermen often languish in jail, even after serving their terms, as poor diplomatic ties between the two neighbours mean fulfilling bureaucratic requirements can take a long time.