Pak to release 57 Indian fishing boats in mid-Sept

Pakistan on Monday announced that it will release 57 fishing boats seized from Indian fishermen, who were arrested for allegedly violating the country’s territorial waters.

The decision to release the boats came after instructions from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

A nine-member Indian delegation visited Karachi from July 18-20 to inspect the boats and discuss modalities for the release with officials of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA).

While every effort is made by the PMSA to keep the boats in good condition, however, some minor repairs are still required before the boats could be physically handed over, Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement.

‘In this regard, a follow up visit of Indian officials would take place sometime in August to oversee the repairs before they are returned in mid-September,’ it said. Indian fishermen and boats are often apprehended by the PMSA for allegedly violating Pakistan territorial waters.