September 4, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 6, 1424

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KARACHI, Sept 3: Pakistan has agreed to release 269 Indian fishermen detained by coastal authorities for having strayed into the country’s maritime limits in the Arabian Sea.

Officials confirmed that these fishermen will leave aboard 31 boats on Thursday.

The sources said that the Maritime Security Agency (MSA) would undertake their repatriation.

Their release is a gesture of goodwill on part of the government under its peace initiative programme with India.

Officials said that MSA vessels would escort the boats up to the maritime boundary between the two countries and hand the Indian fishing boats over to Indian coast guards.

A six-member Indian delegation has been in Pakistan since July 28 to seek the release of the detained fishermen.

The repatriation formalities of the fishermen will be held aboard MSS Nazim moored in the Keamari basin.

The total number of detained fishermen is 343. It is also learnt that the government has also agreed to release the remaining 74 fishermen after completion of repairs on their boats. They were aboard 18 boats.

Pakistani authorities expressed the hope that the release of Indian fishermen would be followed by the release of Pakistani fishermen in India.