KARACHI, Dec 22: A 7-member delegation of Indian fishermen arrived on Wednesday to hold talks for the release of Indian fishermen and their boats. A director of Fishermen's Cooperative Society (FCS) Haji Mohammad Younus and other officials received the delegation at Karachi Airport.

Later, the delegation led by president Sagar Kedut Kalyan Trust, Modi Premji Govind held a meeting with Sindh Home Secretary Brig (rtd) Mohtaram Ali at his office. The Secretary suggested to the Indian delegation to ask their fishermen to refrain from crossing over into Pakistan's territorial waters to avoid arrest.

He referred to an agreed policy between Pakistan and Indian authorities to seize fishing boats and release fishermen on the condition that they would undertake the return journey via land border and not in fishing boats.

He said that this time Indian fishermen may be allowed to take their boats for the return journey, but in future their boats will be confiscated. It may be noted that about 869 Indian fishermen along with 117 boats are being held in Pakistan while 141 Pakistani fishermen with 20 boats are languishing in Indian jails. -APP