Thaindian News

New Delhi/Islamabad, Dec 23 (IANS) Denying reports of a delay in accepting 100 Indian fishermen released by Pakistan, India Wednesday welcomed the decision and underlined that arrangements were being made to receive them. New Delhi also asked Islamabad to expedite the repatriation at the earliest of the remaining Indian fishermen in its custody.
Setting the record straight, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad received the formal communication in this regard from Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry late Tuesday evening.

While welcoming the release of the fishermen, the High Commission immediately requested Pakistan’s foreign ministry to forward the list of those who were to be released, Prakash added.

The list was made available only at 12.30 p.m. Wednesday, he pointed out.

“Arrangements to receive the fishermen, together with completion of necessary formalities, are underway and will be completed expeditiously,” the spokesperson said. “It is hoped that the remaining Indian fishermen in custody in Pakistan will also be released at the earliest,” he added.

The release of Pakistani fishermen in Indian custody, whose nationality has been verified by the Pakistani High Commission in India, is also being processed, the spokesperson said.

Earlier, reports in the Pakistani media said India was reluctant to receive its fishermen and Indian officials had requested the Pakistan government to postpone the departure of the 100 Indian fishermen as full arrangements had not been made so far.

According to Hirala Shiyal, president of the Porbander-based National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), over 600 Indian fishermen are languishing in Pakistani jails for the last three years.