New Delhi releases 67 Pakistani prisoners

LAHORE: Despite recent tensions between Pakistan and India, New Delhi has released 67 Pakistani prisoners, who were handed over to Pakistani authorities at the Attari-Wagah border.

The released prisoners include 53 fishermen and 14 civilian detainees who had been imprisoned in India for several years.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Pakistan’s High Commission in India said that 67 Pakistani nationals — including 48 fishermen — had returned to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border.

The statement clarified that of the 67 prisoners, 19 were civilians and 48 were fishermen. The High Commission said its officials were present at the border to facilitate the repatriation process. It added that the government of Pakistan would continue its efforts to secure the release of all Pakistanis imprisoned in India.

56 Pakistani prisoners return home from Sri Lanka

Most of the released prisoners belong to Karachi and other coastal areas of Sindh.

Many of them had been arrested by Indian authorities for allegedly violating maritime boundaries while fishing.

Among those released, 21 had been imprisoned in Gujarat, one in Rajasthan, 39 in Porbandar, one each in Hyderabad and Ludhiana, and four in Amritsar.

Officials said that efforts were also under way to ensure the release of Pakistani prisoners in India who have already completed their sentences.

The release of Pakistani prisoners from Indian jails comes at a time of strained relations between the two countries.

54 Afghan prisoners released from Pakistani prisons

One of the fishermen, who hailed from Karachi, was arrested by Indian forces at the age of 19 while fishing with his companions.

They were 15 in total, two of whom died in Indian prisons. The fisherman, who was imprisoned at the age of 19, has now been released along with his father and returned to Pakistan, though many of his companions remain behind bars in India.

According to security officials, the released prisoners will be sent to their homes after clearance and investigation.

It is worth noting that on July 1, 2025, Pakistan and India exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other’s jails.

According to the lists, there were 246 Indian prisoners in Pakistan, including 53 civilians and 193 fishermen, while India shared a list of 463 Pakistani prisoners in its custody, comprising 382 civilians and 81 fishermen.