KARACHI: The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on Saturday arrested 47 Indian fishermen and seized nine boats.
The Indian fishermen were arrested for fishing illegally in Pakistan’s waters.
The Indian launches have been seized for violating Pakistan’s costal boundaries, according to the PMSA spokesperson. He said that PMSA vessels and fast attack boats took part in an open sea operation.
Apart from Indian fishermen, nine fishing boats were also impounded. The arrested fishermen were handed over to Docks police for legal proceedings and investigation. Earlier on January 19, 17 Indian fishermen were arrested and three boats were seized by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency for fishing illegally in Pakistani waters. In December last year and January this year, Pakistan freed 292 Indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture.–Staff Reporter
Fishermen from Pakistan and India are frequently detained for illegal fishing in each other’s territorial waters since the Arabian Sea does not have a clearly defined marine border and the wooden boats lack the technology to avoid being drifted away.
A number of non-government organisations in both India and Pakistan have raised the issue, pressing their governments to release arrested fishermen without any delay.
