KARACHI – The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) arrested 60 Indian fishermen after they strayed into Pakistan’s territorial waters, an official confirmed on Friday.
“The arrests were made on Thursday morning, and the MSA also impounded 10 boats,” police officer Lateef Babar said.
“The 60 men would be taken to the court on Saturday from where they would be sent to jail,” he added.
Scores of Indian and Pakistani fishermen are captured in the Arabian Sea every year after straying across maritime borders.
They often remain behind bars even after serving their sentences owing to frayed relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
However, earlier this month,Pakistan released 220 Indian fishermen as a ‘goodwill’ gesture.
Relations between India and Pakistan have plummeted after the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead.
India blamed Pakistan for the attack but Pakistan categorically denied the allegations in this regard.
The tension simmered once again after India claimed that they had carried out a surgical strike inside Pakistan, which Pakistan termed a drama.
Both nuclear-armed neighbors also expelled the other’s high commission staffers following allegations of espionage.
Recently India targeted a passenger bus in Neelum valley that left nine passengers dead. Moreover, three Pakistani soldiers also lost their lives in the attack.
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