KARACHI: Authorities on Friday released 36 Indian prisoners from the District Prison Malir in Karachi, as a gesture of good will.

Thirty five fishermen and one civilian were released from the District Prison Malir after completing their sentences.

The prisoners will be repatriated to India through the Wagah Border in Lahore.

The prisoners said they were very happy to be released and could not wait to be reunited with their loved ones. They also said that they had been treated fairly in Pakistan.

Pakistan and India frequently arrest and accuse each other’s fishermen of violating their respective zones in the Arabian Sea.

419 Indian fishermen are currently held in Karachi's District Prison Malir.

According to the Fishermen Cooperative Society, approximately 400 Pakistani fishermen are currently being held in Indian prisons.

Such arrests are frequently carried out by both countries, as the maritime border in the Arabian Sea is poorly defined and many fishing boats lack the technology needed to be certain of their precise location.

The fishermen often languish in jail even after serving their term, as poor diplomatic ties between the two arch rivals mean fulfilling official requirements can take a long time.