ISLAMABAD, March 8: Pakistan on Tuesday announced release of 700 Indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture and to boost peace process. The prisoners are mostly Indian fishermen arrested after straying into Pakistan's territorial waters.

Foreign office said in a statement the gesture was aimed at ensuring a friendly atmosphere during the ongoing Pakistan-India cricket series. Earlier, President Pervez Musharraf had ordered release of 800 Indian fishermen held in Pakistani jails for illegally crossing into Pakistan's waters, foreign ministry spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said.

The president had also ordered release of 31 Indian Sikhs on the appeal of visiting communist leaders from India. -PPI