A day before the highly anticipated Pakistan-India cricket match, Pakistan has sent a goodwill message to its neighbour by releasing 22 Indian fishermen and handing them over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border after completing their sentences.

The fishermen, who were imprisoned in Karachi’s Malir Jail, were freed on Friday and transported to Lahore, where they were repatriated via the Wagah border on Saturday.

Malir Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah told the media the fishermen were released after completing their sentences for unintentionally crossing into Pakistan’s territorial waters.

The Edhi Foundation, led by Faisal Edhi, arranged transportation, travel expenses, and financial assistance for the released fishermen. The foundation also provided them with gifts and cash as a humanitarian gesture.

Faisal Edhi urged both India and Pakistan to adopt a more compassionate approach toward fishermen who mistakenly cross maritime boundaries. He highlighted the suffering of their families during their prolonged incarcerations and stressed the need for quick repatriation after the completion of their sentences.

Regular Arrests Due to Poorly Demarcated Borders

Fishermen from both countries are frequently arrested due to poorly demarcated sea frontiers. According to the latest prisoner exchange lists shared between India and Pakistan on January 1, 2025:

Pakistan held 266 Indian prisoners, including 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen.
India held 462 Pakistani prisoners, including 381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen.

The two countries periodically exchange prisoners, but tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours often delay repatriations.