Pak government frees 337 Indian fishermen as 'goodwill gesture'

Pakistan has released 337 Indian fishermen, held for violating territorial waters, amid high tensions over ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC).

A senior official at Karachi's Malir jail Shuja Haider said that 337 Indian fishermen and seven other juveniles have left for Lahore, where they will be handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border, the Express Tribune reports.

The move comes as part of an understanding between the two countries to release citizens who mistakenly stray into each other's waters in the Arabian Sea.

The release had been sped up as a goodwill gesture to India, Pakistani officials said.

The two nations have been reeling under increased tensions over unprovoked firing from both sides on the LoC, the de facto border in Kashmir, following the killing of five Indian soldiers on August 5 on the border of Poonch.

India had blamed the incident on the Pakistani military.

However, Islamabad had denied the claims and extended reconciliation, urging for restraint and dialogue.

According to the report, there are still 97 Indian fishermen and three other Indian nationals languishing in jails of Karachi.