Pakistani authorities arrest 24 Indian fishermen

New Delhi: Pakistani authorities on Friday evening arrested 24 Indian fishermen after their fishing boats strayed into Pakistan's territorial waters. The fishermen were handed over to the Karachi police. Last month Pakistan released 48 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture following talks between Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

The fishermen were arrested by the Maritime Security Agency (MSA) and brought to a police station in the southern port city of Karachi. A spokesman for the MSA said the Indian nationals were "apprehended for poaching well inside Pakistani waters". Today's arrests took the number of Indian fishermen arrested this month to 57. Thirty-three fishermen were arrested on October 1.

The MSA frequently arrests Indian fishermen on charges of violating the country’s EEZ. The fishermen sometimes languish in jail for months even after completing their prison terms. After the two countries revived their peace process last year after a gap of over two years in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, they took several steps to speed up the release of fishermen.

Last month Pakistan released 48 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture following talks between India and Pakistan.

With additional information from PTI

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