Fishermen families urge India and Pakistan to release detained fishers

Families of Indian fishermen and various fishing organizations are calling on the governments of India and Pakistan to repatriate detained fisherpeople as a humanitarian gesture during upcoming Independence Day celebrations.

According to reports from the National Fishworkers Forum and the Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy, 198 Indian fishermen are currently imprisoned in Pakistan, while 53 or 54 Pakistani fishermen are held in Indian prisons. Organizations highlight that a significant number of the Indian detainees—approximately 178—have already completed their prison sentences.

Advocates state that these individuals often cross maritime boundaries accidentally during fishing expeditions rather than engaging in criminal activity or espionage. Families have expressed severe emotional and financial distress, noting that many detainees have been in custody for several years despite their nationality being verified and sentences being served. The request emphasizes adherence to the 2008 India-Pakistan Consular Access Agreement to facilitate their release and return through border points such as Wagah.