A total of 144 fishermen from Gujarat remain imprisoned in Pakistani jails as of January 31, the state government informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
Between February 1, 2023, and January 21, 2024, Pakistan released 432 fishermen from Gujarat. However, no fishermen have been released since then.
The state government also reported a decline in the number of Gujarat fishermen arrested by Pakistan. “Between February 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024, only nine Gujarat fishermen were detained by Pakistani authorities,” the government stated.
“In the following year, 13 fishermen were arrested, marking a slight increase.”
In a separate response, the state government disclosed that 1,173 boats from Gujarat are currently in Pakistan’s custody.
Over the past two years, Pakistan has detained 22 fishermen and seized four boats. While 432 fishermen were released during this period, none of the seized boats have been returned.
The issue of Indian fishermen being arrested near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) remains a longstanding concern. Repeated diplomatic efforts have been made to secure their release.
As of July 1, 2024, a total of 211 Indian fishermen were detained in Pakistani jails, with 134 of them from Gujarat.
The government noted a decline in the number of Gujarati fishermen incarcerated compared to previous years.
On December 31, 2022, 560 Gujarati fishermen were in Pakistani jails, with 274 apprehended in 2021 and 2022 alone. “The reduction in arrests suggests improved maritime practices and bilateral efforts to address the issue,” the statement added.
Despite these improvements, the prolonged detention of fishermen continues to impact their families and communities.
In February, 22 Indian fishermen were released from a Pakistani jail. They had been detained in Pakistan for “inadvertently” straying into its waters during 2021-2022. Among them, 18 were from Gujarat, three were from Diu, and one was a resident of Uttar Pradesh.
The state government emphasised the need for continued diplomatic engagement to ensure the timely release of detained fishermen and the return of confiscated boats. “The government remains committed to addressing this issue through all possible diplomatic channels,” the statement concluded.
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