Vadodara: The Centre is planning to release
another batch of 19 Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian
jails, a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs
said on Saturday.
India has already released 31 Pakistani fishermen lodged
in Gujarat jails. The process is on to sent them to Pakistan
through Wagah border, the official said.
The government`s decision is in response to Pakistan
releasing 100 Indian fishermen from its custody on December 26
on "humanitarian ground", he said.
Fishermen from both the countries while fishing in the
seas sometimes end up in each other`s waters, particularly off
the Gujarat coast and the coastal police take them in to
custody. There are reportedly 532 Indian fishermen presently
in custody of the Pakistan police.
The number of Pakistani fishermen in Indian jails was not
immediately known.
Meanwhile, Indian authorities are still waiting at the
Wagah border in Punjab for handing over 31 Pakistani fishermen
to their counterparts. They were released from a jail at Bhuj
in Gujarat couple of days ago.
Talking to agency over phone today, a top official of the
Ministry of External Affairs said, "Due to fog and intense
cold, the Pakistani authorities concerned have not reached the
border resulting in the delay."
The Gujarat government has made special arrangements for
transporting the Pakistani fishermen to Wagah border.
PTI
