Pakistan on Wednesday released 150 Indian fishermen lodged in jails in Karachi in a goodwill gesture, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to greet him on the holy month of Ramzan amid a war of words between the two countries.
Pakistani authorities said they had released 150 Indian fishermen from the Landhi and Malir jails as a goodwill gesture before the start of Ramazan.
The Indian fishermen left for Lahore from Karachi's cantonment station by Karakoram Express in the evening and will be handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border on Thursday.
Two bogies were specifically reserved for the Indian fishermen who were given flower bouquets and gifts by jail authorities and officials of the Edhi Welfare Foundation, a non-profit social welfare organisation, before boarding the train.
The Edhi Trust officials also handed over $100 to each fishermen to help them meet their travelling expenses till they reach home.
Reza Kazim, an official of the Edhi Welfare Foundation, said some of his workers were accompanying the fishermen to Lahore to ensure that they do not face any problems.
The fishermen were brought to the station in two buses and four Edhi ambulances amid tight security cover. Kazim said most of the released fishermen were from Gujarat. Dr Manzoor Wassan, who is the deputy secretary of the Sindh home department, told the media that he hoped the Indian authorities would reciprocate the gesture of the Pakistani side soon.
He said these fishermen have been released after completion of legal formalities in compliance with their repatriation order issued by the interior ministry. The Indian fishermen were released after Modi on June 16 called up Sharif to wish him on the occasion of Ramzan and stressed the need for having ‘peaceful’ and ‘friendly’ bilateral ties.
In his telephonic conversation, Modi also conveyed to Sharif India's decision to release detained Pakistani fishermen on the occasion of Ramzan, a move seen as a bid to lower tensions between the two countries.
Pakistan and India have been involved in a war of words recently with leaders from both sides exchanging sharp comments after Modi's critical remarks about Pakistan during his Dhaka visit and in the wake of India's military action in Myanmar.
India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishermen who venture into unmarked territorial waters of the two countries.
Last February, around 172 Indian fishermen were released from Malir jail.
