KARACHI, Sept 16: The Maritime Security Agency arrested 11 Indian fishermen caught fishing in the exclusive economic zone on Saturday night. According to a statement issued by the MSA, the fishermen were caught around 100 kilometres inside Pakistan’s EEZ. After being brought to the shore, they were handed over to the Docks police station.

Even after 65 years, the sea border between India and Pakistan at Sir Creek has not been properly demarcated, causing many fishermen from both the countries to stray into each other’s territory while fishing in deep sea. The security agencies arrest them and put them in prison. They are tried and sentenced and can go back home after finishing their jail sentence after diplomats of their country identify them. However, the due process takes long and the men languish in jails for a long time even after they finish their jail terms.

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum has been working to highlight the plight of Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails and vice versa. The PFF’s chief, Mohammad Ali Shah, said that the PFF has proposed many times that Pakistan and India sign an agreement – like the one India has signed with its two other neighbours, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – under which the fishermen’s catch is confiscated while the men are released then and there.

Another proposal put forward was that both the countries demarcate 100 kilometres, 50 kilometres on each side of the sea border, as a buffer zone and both the countries issue identity cards to the fishermen for authorising them to fish in the buffer zone. This will keep them from being harassed by the security authorities and the men will be released after checking their identity.