Pakistan releases 20 Indian fishermen prisoners, expects India to reciprocate the same gesture

"Pakistan today has released and repatriated 20 Indian prisoners, those who were fishermen upon the completion of their sentence. Given the Humanitarian gesture, Pakistan expects India to reciprocate the gesture in the same spirit," said Pakistan"s foreign ministry.

NewsBharati    21-Jun-2022 11:53:52 AM
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Islamabad, June 21: Pakistan released 20 Indian fishermen prisoners through the Attari Wagah Border as a goodwill gesture. The Indian fishermen, who had entered the Pakistani waters unknowingly, were released after spending four years in prison.
 
Pakistan releases 20 Indian fishermen prisoners
According to Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, these fishermen have been repatriated via Wagah Border to India. He said given the humanitarian nature of the prisoners’ issue, Pakistan expects the government of India to reciprocate the gesture in the same spirit.
 
"Pakistan today has released and repatriated 20 Indian prisoners, those who were fishermen upon the completion of their sentence, “Given the Humanitarian gesture, Pakistan expects India to reciprocate the gesture in the same spirit," said Pakistan foreign ministry.
 
 
Speaking a news agency, a fisherman named Kanji said, "We were caught in the sea in our own area. The speedboat started firing as it came and caught me for crossing the border. I am coming back home after four years and looking forward to home-cooked meals as we used to cook our own food in prison," he added.
 
Another fisherman Akil said he was caught while finding his net in the sea and never realised that he crossed the borders, adding that he is now happy to be back in his homeland as he hailed the Modi government.
 
The fishermen who were released are Gujarat natives who were caught in different groups on October 2 and May 18 respectively, following which a judicial trial took place and they were sentenced to four years in prison. The release took place after immigration authorities carried out the required formalities, post which the Gujarat police came and took them under a safeguard towards their native places.