After spending a miserable 26 months inside Karachi's Malir Landhi jail, Dhanji Karsan is happy to be reunited with his family and delighted that he is a free man once again.
Part of an exchange of prisoners, he was released on November 25, 2008 -- the day before ten murderers attacked Mumbai.
'Terrorism has always been a low priority'
Pakistan released 101 Indians -- 99 fishermen and two Indian residents who had inadvertently strayed into that country. India let go 29 Pakistani fishermen that day, Karsan informs us.
When he reached Diu six days later, on December 1, he did not know about the terror strikes in Mumbai. He was shocked when his friends told him about it.
Though Karsan understands the tragedy that had befallen Mumbai and expresses his grief, his heart weeps for the Indian fishermen still in Pakistani captivity.
Manishbhai Lodhari, assistant secretary, National Fish Workers Forum (Gujarat), says Pakistan has captured 361 Indian fishing boats and 356 fishermen in the last two years.
"We must find a permanent solution to this mess that endangers and ruins the lives of Indian as well as Pakistani fishermen," says Karsan. Scores of Pakistani fishermen -- like their Indian counterparts in Landhi -- languish in Indian prisons as well.
Image: The names of some of the 356 Indian fishermen who languish in Pakistani prisons.
Also read: Interview: Journalist who visited these camps speaks!
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