23 Indian fishermen arrested for fishing illegally in Pakistan’s waters

KARACHI (Monitoring Desk): The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PSMA) arrested 23 Indian fishermen and impounded four boats after they were found violating territorial water limits of the country, read a statement issued on Sunday.

PSMA Spokesperson Commander Wajid Nawaz, while sharing details of the exercise, said Indian fishermen were apprehended for their alleged indulgence in illegal fishing inside the Pakistan’s territorial waters.

The arrested fishermen have been handed over to Docks police to carry out the required legal procedures, said Nawaz.

The intervention process was said to have involved PSMA manned vessels and speedboats.

The arrest comes days after Pakistan released 68 Indian fishermen held for trespassing into its territorial waters in October this year.

Indian and Pakistani fishermen are frequently detained for illegal fishing since the Arabian Sea border is not clearly defined and many boats lack the technology to fix their precise location.

The fishermen often languish in jail, even after serving their terms, as poor diplomatic ties between the two neighbours mean fulfilling bureaucratic requirements can take a long time.