ISLAMABAD: Pakistan released another 200 fishermen on Friday, bringing the total number of fishermen from the hostile neighbour set free in about three weeks to around 400.

“Today, Pakistan is releasing 200 Indian fishermen and 3 civilian prisoners,” Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted on Friday. He also mentioned that 198 Indian fishermen were repatriated on May 12.

“This is in line with Pakistan’s policy of not politicising humanitarian matters. Compassion should take precedence over politics,” he remarked.

The development comes a day after the foreign office spokesperson hinted at the release of another group of Indian fishermen and civilians.

“The release of Indian fishermen and civilians demonstrates Pakistan’s consistent policy of not politicising humanitarian matters. We also hope that India would undertake similar humanitarian gestures and release Pakistani civilians and fishermen as well,” she said without revealing the number of Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails.

The fishermen released from jail in Karachi are brought to Lahore, with the Edhi Foundation bearing the traveling cost, and are handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border. Indian and Pakistani fishermen are frequently detained for illegal fishing since the maritime boundary is said to be poorly marked at some points, and many boats lack the technology to fix their precise location.

The fishermen often languish in jail, even after serving their terms, as poor diplomatic ties between the two neighbors mean fulfilling bureaucratic requirements can take a long time. Informed sources told Dawn that yet another batch of Indian prisoners is likely to be released next month as well.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2023