ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: Pakistan will release 16 Indian Sikh illegal immigrants in a goodwill gesture aimed at bolstering the peace process between the two countries, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

“The release of Sikh youths is part of the peace package announced by Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali on May 6 to improve relations with India,” the foreign ministry statement said.

The Indians, who will be released on Monday, were held for crossing into Pakistan without legal documents.

Mr Jamali announced a series of confidence-building measures with India in May in response to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s April 18 offer of a “hand of friendship” to Pakistan.

On Thursday, Pakistan had released 269 Indian fishermen who had been languishing in jail for a year.—AFP