KARACHI, March 5: The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) has arrested more than 30 Indian fishermen for illegal fishing in Pakistani sea waters, it is learnt. The MSA has also impounded five boats.

The agency had detained 64 fishermen and 11 boats last week on similar charge.

Sources said that violation of Pakistani sea waters limits had become frequent after the Agra summit. Despite repeated warnings by the Pakistani security agencies, the Indian fishermen continued to violate limits of Pakistani sea waters.

According to MSA sources, these fishermen were spotted nearly 70 nautical miles inside Pakistani waters.

Earlier in similar operations, the MSA had detained 100 Indian fishermen and impounded 18 boats, bringing the total number of detained fishermen to 194.

After the Agra summit, both the countries had exchanged more than 300 fishermen and officials from both the countries asked the fishermen of their respective countries not to violate the sea water limits of the other country in their own interests.

Fisheries sources have confirmed that after the Agra summit no Pakistani fisherman had been arrested by the Indian authorities.

Meanwhile, it is reliably learnt that the Indian officials have established contacts with the Pakistani officials for the release of these fishermen. It is said that the Pakistan government would soon take a decision in this regard.

MOOT: A meeting between high-level officials of fisheries departments of Sindh and Balochistan will be held here on Wednesday to discuss the situation arising out of the firing incident that took place at Makran coast last week, resulting in the killing of one Karachi-based fisherman and injuring four others.