Published on: September 10, 2025 3:36 AM
New Delhi has released 67 Pakistani prisoners despite heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. The released prisoners were handed over to Pakistani authorities at the Wagah-Attari border on Tuesday. The group includes 53 fishermen and 14 civilians. Many of them had been incarcerated in Indian jails for several years.
According to officials, Pakistan has released nearly 600 Indian prisoners over the past five years, while India has freed only about 200 Pakistanis since 2021.
The latest release was made possible through the efforts of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, which secured consular access, processed travel documents, and facilitated their repatriation. First Secretary Tariq Masroor played a key role in coordinating the release and repatriation of the Pakistani prisoners.
Most of the freed Pakistanis hail from Karachi and Sindh’s coastal areas. Many of them were arrested after crossing into Indian waters during fishing trips, often due to technical failures or rough sea conditions. Among those released, were five members of the same family, arrested in January 2022.
Authorities mentioned that 21 of the prisoners were kept in Gujarat jail, one in Rajasthan, 39 in Porbandar, one in Hyderabad, one in Ludhiana, and four in Amritsar jail.
Officials added that efforts are being made to secure the release of other Pakistanis who have already completed their sentences in India.
One of the released fishermen, Muhammad Rizwan from Karachi, was detained at the age of 19 while fishing with 14 companions. Two members of his group reportedly died in Indian custody. Rizwan and his father were among those freed, though several of his companions are still imprisoned.
Security officials in Lahore said that the repatriated prisoners would undergo clearance and questioning before being reunited with their families.
The development comes weeks after Pakistan and India exchanged lists of prisoners on July 1, 2025. Pakistan reported holding 246 Indian prisoners – 53 civilians and 193 fishermen – while India listed 463 Pakistanis in its custody, including 382 civilians and 81 fishermen.
