86 Indian fishermen released by Pakistan

Karachi: In a goodwill gesture, Pakistan on Sunday released 86 Indian fishermen arrested for allegedly violating its territorial waters.

The 86 fishermen, apprehended almost five months ago, were released from Landhi Jail here and will be sent to India through Wagah Border tomorrow, Radio Pakistan reported.

According to Jail Superintendent of Landhi Jail, the fishermen have been released as a goodwill gesture.

Fishermen are frequently arrested along with their boats by both India and Pakistan as the maritime border in the Arabian Sea is poorly defined, and many fishing boats lack the technology needed to be certain of their precise location.

Some of them spend years in jail before being repatriated.

In the past the two nations have released each other's fishermen as goodwill gestures.