43 Indian fishermen arrested for violating territorial limits

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency on Sunday detained 43 Indian fishermen over violation of territorial sea limits, said officials.

"The Indian fishermen were illegally fishing in the territorial limits of Pakistan.," said Amin Marri, Station House Officer of Docks police station.

The fishermen have been handed over to the local police for further legal action. A case has been registered against them under the Foreigner's Act and the Fisheries Act.

The arrested fishermen will be presented in court on Monday.

The Edhi Foundation has provided food to the arrested fishermen, said a spokesperson of the foundation.

Pakistan and India frequently carry out such arrests 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.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, government affairs, and the health sector.

20 more Indian fishermen arrested

86 more Indian fishermen released

88 Indian fishermen arrested

Complex

Nov 20, 2016 09:19pm

Keep their boats let them go

Recommend 0

Pankaj

Nov 20, 2016 09:25pm

Thank you EDHI FOUNDATION... Great respect.

Recommend 0

Waheed

Nov 20, 2016 09:42pm

Why to arrest these poor souls, when you let armed submarine go

Recommend 0

Hasna

Nov 20, 2016 09:45pm

COMPLEX..not ethical to take a man's tools of trade.

Recommend 0

Global Peace

Nov 20, 2016 09:57pm

Poor people , but law matters. Release them in exchange of Pakistani fishermen

Recommend 0

Kabob bob

Nov 20, 2016 10:01pm

@Complex why? They are just poor fisherman who are trying to support their families.

Recommend 0

Agatha christie

Nov 20, 2016 10:14pm

Pakistani waters are very rich in fish presence, maybe due to this,or by error Indian fishermen crossed over to Pak waters.A lenient view be awarded to these poor fishermen as there is no marked boundary on sea,and as per precedent on humanitarian grounds they may be allowed to go home on their boats, escorted by Pak Maritimes, and a warning be issued, preventing recurrence of such violations.

Recommend 0

Bilal

Nov 20, 2016 10:25pm

There should be a mutual agreement not to bother these poor humans.

Recommend 0

Paggrri Sambhal

Nov 20, 2016 10:33pm

Plz release these poor fishermen.

Recommend 0

iMTIAZ ALI KHAN

Nov 20, 2016 10:45pm

@Complex That will be very sad if that ever happens. These fisherman are poor people and have families to feed.

Recommend 0

iMTIAZ ALI KHAN

Nov 20, 2016 10:47pm

@Pankaj OH yeah Pak will always be proud of Abdul Satar Edhi R.I.P. Humanity 1st.

Recommend 0

Akku

Nov 20, 2016 10:57pm

Live and let live.

Recommend 0

Harmony-1©

Nov 20, 2016 11:40pm

@Complex - Yes, your highness!

Recommend 0

Javed

Nov 21, 2016 01:14am

Both countries should declare this disputed maritime area a Joint Marine Reserve park. I understand it would be difficult in the current political environment. Still, it could be a welcome ice-breaker.

Recommend 0

Guruji

Nov 21, 2016 01:21am

Waste of time and energies.

Recommend 0

Peace

Nov 21, 2016 01:59am

They are innocent and should not be victimized due to hate politics of MODI. They are from country where our ancestors belong.They are guests so treat them well :) Thankyou EDHI FOUNDATION

Recommend 0

Sonny Afridi

Nov 21, 2016 02:29am

We should have captured their submarine crew. These guys are just poor people earning a living. Warn them, and let them go.

Recommend 0

Nov 21, 2016 03:44am

What a waste of resources from either side. If it is established that fishermen have been caught and there is no maladies intent established then they should simply be allowed to go back to their respective countries.

Recommend 0

Deva

Nov 21, 2016 03:55am

@Complex Lol..keep it and become rich

Recommend 0

Khabboo

Nov 21, 2016 05:18am

@COMPLEX - A mistake made by fishermen without technology - and you want to take away their livlihood?.

Recommend 0

sialkoti malibu

Nov 21, 2016 06:21am

childish game played by both sides.

Recommend 0

sikandar

Nov 21, 2016 06:37am

India and Pakistan should not arrest poor fisherman from the neighboring country and harass them for political gains. For gods sake, please free them. May god bless these poor fishermen from both countries.

Recommend 0

Akil Akhtar

Nov 21, 2016 07:19am

India has become a nuisance in the region....

Recommend 0

Mohajir

Nov 21, 2016 08:24am

Lets stop going after poor fishermen. Seas and oceans do not have any visible borders so lets be compassionate towards these poor fishermen

Recommend 0

Gem Khan

Nov 21, 2016 08:28am

Indian hostility towards neighbors will sink it.

Recommend 0

Gem Khan

Nov 21, 2016 08:30am

Release these poor people in exchange of our own fishermen.

Recommend 0

Shyam

Nov 21, 2016 08:30am

@ Imtiaz Ali Khan, I am also proud of Edhi ji. He was born and brought up in my state Gujarat. His signature was also in Gujarati language.

Recommend 0

Nov 21, 2016 08:45am

Thanks to my Pakistani brothers for their support to these poor lives. India should immediately release Pakistani fisherman in Exchange.

Recommend 0

Alba

Nov 21, 2016 09:41am

They hungry masses will soon empty the oceans of fish.

Recommend 0

KAshif

Nov 21, 2016 12:00pm

to people who are saying that we should release the fishermen. There could be spies in disguise, and i'm sure after proper investigation they will be released.

Recommend 0

kamal Pasha

Nov 21, 2016 04:43pm

Last week Bangladesh government arrested Indian fishermen. Why Indian fishermen are going to other countries? And also you will find thousands of illegal Indians in the Gulf countries, England, Far East etc.

Recommend 0

LGSYR

Nov 21, 2016 06:49pm

Two nuclear powers are fighting over poor fishermen ! Pakistan should release them with their boats and India should release Pakistan's fishermen with boats.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.

NTL and Unikrew Solutions establish additional strategic understanding for potential transformation opportunities

Collaboration brings together complementary strengths to jointly pursue high-impact opportunities in Pakistan and international markets.

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.