KARACHI, April 8: The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) has arrested 36 more Indian fishermen who strayed into Pakistan territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, and impounded six of their boats, police said on Thursday.

"The Indian fishermen were arrested within Pakistani territorial waters," Commander Afzal Khaliq said. The Pakistan and India coastguards routinely detain fishermen for straying across their shared maritime borders.

Since January Pakistani authorities have arrested 169 Indian fishermen and seized 30 boats, MSA officials said. The number of Pakistan fishermen detained by India was not available.

In November last year, Pakistani and Indian maritime authorities exchanged fishermen who had been held by each other for years. The exchange was part of confidence-building measures between the two countries. Pakistan released 74 Indian fishermen and in return India freed 93. - AFP