Pakistan Captures 23 Indian Fishermen Off Gujarat Coast

Ahmedabad: The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on Wednesday apprehended 23 Indian fishermen and seized their four boats off the Gujarat coast, an official of Porbandar-based National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF) said.
    
These fishermen had sailed from Porbandar in Rajasthan a few days ago and were apprehended by the PMSA near the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL), NFF secretary Manish Lodhari told PTI.
    
"We have learnt that at least 23 fishermen on four boats were apprehended by the PMSA near Jakhau and they were being taken to Karachi," Mr Lodhari said.
    
Arresting and apprehending fishermen is no new tale between Indian and Pakistani authorities.

Earlier this month, Indian authorities saved a couple of Pak commandoes who were chasing Indian fishermen who had mistakenly crossed over to Pak side. In return Pakistan had reportedly announced release of the fishermen. Then, it was the Indian Coast Guard Ship "Arinjay" that had come to the rescue of the drowning Pak commandoes.

Just a few days before that, on April 9, four PMSA commandos drowned while two others were saved by Indian fishermen after a boat of the Pakistani agency capsized near the IMBL while allegedly trying to capture around 40 fishermen on seven boats in Indian waters.     

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To reciprocate the help given by Indian fishermen, the PMSA had later released the captured fishermen.

The relations between India and Pakistan remain tense specially since the arrest and subsequent announcement of decision of death sentence to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. Mr Jadhav's mother has filed an appeal against the sentence at a higher court in Pakistan. He is accused of spying by Pakistan.

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