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ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: Pakistan and India on Friday agreed to release fishermen of both sides on the occasions of forthcoming Eidul Fitr and Diwali, a source in the interior ministry told Dawn on Friday.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon with Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao at the interior ministry, the source said.
The source said several hundred Pakistani fishermen were languishing in Indian jails while the number of Indian fishermen held by Pakistani authorities is stated to be about 100. These fishermen were held at different times by either side for illegally crossing borders, the source said.
The Indian envoy suggested that those fishermen who had completed their sentences should be released. Later, it was officially announced that the two sides agreed to expedite the process of fishermen's release after completion of legal formalities.
The efforts to release the held fishermen were stated to be part of the Confidence Building Measures (CMBs) being taken by the two countries, the source said. They added that the issue of fishermen's release had also been discussed during recently-held composite dialogue between the two sides.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT: After meeting the Indian High Commissioner and the interior minister visited the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) and lauded its arrangements to combat terrorism and ensure internal security.
He visited the control and operation rooms of the NCMC and appreciated its achievement made in a short span of time. The minister said the nature of security threat had entirely changed during the last decade. "We have to change our strategy. It is positive to note that we have a department like NCMC to meet the new challenges posed by the terrorist elements," he said.
On this occasion, the NCMC Director-General, Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema, briefed the minister about the goals, objectives and tasks given to the cell. He told the minister that the NCMC was involved in counter terrorism efforts, curbing sectarian violence and other matters related to internal security.
The official said the NCMC was expanding its network to the provincial level and its regional offices in all four provinces would soon be operating.
