ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Pakistan on Sunday released 100 Indian fishermen, including

28 children, ahead of the 60th anniversary of independence being celebrated by Pakistan and India next week, officials said.

India is also expected to release Pakistani fishermen in the coming days, said Tariq Shah, deputy inspector general of jails in Karachi.

“These prisoners are being released as a goodwill gesture for the independence days of both countries,” Shah told Reuters.

The two neighbours frequently arrest each other's fishermen for intruding into their waters despite a thaw in relations since they launched a peace process in 2004.

Many of those arrested are held for years, often without a trial, before they are released.

Last month, both countries agreed to release all arrested fishermen and speed up the release of other civilian prisoners.

The 100 fishermen would be handed over to Indian authorities on the border at Wagah on Monday, Shah said. He added that around 400 Indian fishermen were still in Pakistani jails.—Reuters