KARACHI, Nov 26: The authorities have arrested 17 Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in Pakistani waters, according to officials. “We arrested 17 fishermen and seized their three boats on Friday for violating our maritime zone,” a spokesman for the Maritime Security Agency, Lt-Com Ateequr Rehman, told AFP.

The fishermen have been handed over to police, he added

The latest arrests brought the number of Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan during the current season to 158, Mr Rehman said.

The two countries frequently seize each other’s fishermen for violating their respective zones in the Arabian Sea.

The South Asian rivals swapped prisoners two months ago as part of their peace process. Pakistan has handed over 435 Indian nationals, including 371 fishermen. —-AFP