Amid Tension With India, Pakistan Frees 55 Indian fishermen, 5 civilians as 'goodwill gesture'
As a goodwill gesture, the neighbouring country Pakistan on Monday released 55 Indian fishermen and five civilians. This comes amid the rising tensions between two nations after Pulwama terror attack and Balakot airstrikes.
New Delhi, April 29: As a goodwill gesture, the neighbouring country Pakistan on Monday released 55 Indian fishermen and five civilians. This comes amid the rising tensions between two nations after Pulwama terror attack and Balakot airstrikes. The fishermen and citizens arrested in Pakistan were released from Malir jail in Karachi, the Express Tribune reported. 100 Indian Fishermen, Who Returned via Attari-Wagah Border After Being Released by Pakistan on April 8, Reach Gujarat.
The freed prisoners were taken to the Karachi Cantonment Railway Station under heavy police security, where they boarded the Business Express for Lahore. Earlier, Pakistan had announced the release of 360 Indian prisoners, including five civilians and 355 fishermen, during April. Pakistan Announces Release of 360 Indian Prisoners Upon Completion of Their Sentences.
On April 7, Pakistan released the first batch of 100 fishermen and another batch of 100 on April 14. According to the lists exchanged by both sides earlier this year, around 347 Pakistani prisoners are lodged in Indian jails, including 249 civilians and 98 fishermen.
Pakistan's decision to release the fishermen came amidst heightening tensions between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a pre-emptive air strike against a JeM terrorist camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 29, 2019 07:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).