Pakistan releases 183 Indian fishermen

A Pakistani police officer stands guard as Indian fishermen wait for train to leave for India after their release from the central jail in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. Some 163 Indian fishermen left for home after they were released from detention in Pakistan for alleged illegal entry and fishing in Pakistani waters in the Arabian Sea, an official said. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

On Sunday, August 2, Pakistan released 138 Indian fishermen from a Karachi prison as a goodwill gesture and in pursuance of Ufa talks.

According to reports, the released fishermen will reach Lahore where they will be handed over to the Indian officials at the Wagah border.

The Indian fishermen have been released by the government as pursuance of Ufa talks and as a goodwill gesture to the people and the government of India.

After a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Ufa, Bashkiria (Russia) in early July, the two leaders issued a joint statement that outlined a number of steps the two countries intended to follow to improve their relationship, including the release of fishermen in each other’s custody along with their boats within 15 days.

In June this year, around one hundred and thirteen Indian fishermen had been released after a similar gesture by New Delhi was announced to mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan. The fishermen had been held in a Karachi jail for nine months to a year, and upon release, were transferred on a train to Lahore from where they will cross back to India.

The release of Indian fishermen had followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s phone call to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, offering Ramadan wishes and announcing the release of detained fishermen in an apparent icebreaking move after Modi’s recent provocative comments about Pakistan instigating terrorism in India, heightened bilateral tensions.