India and Pakistan’s decision to soon release all fishermen and boats in each other’s custody is welcome news. They should also adopt a​ ‘No Arrest Policy’

The India and Pakistan governments’ decision to release all fishermen in each other’s custody, along with their boats, within a period of 15 days has come as welcome news.

The Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers, came to this agreement at their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) in Ufa, Russia. The Prime Ministers, Mr Narendra Modi and Mr Nawaz Sharif. also agreed to discuss mechanisms for facilitating religious tourism.

The Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) in a statement released to the media on July 10 hailed these moves and also urged both governments to adopt a No Arrest Policy.

“The Indian and Pakistani fishermen are traditional fishermen and they have been carrying this work for ages. It is their only source of livelihood,” said PIPFPD, termingthe decision to release their boats as “significant”.

Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency (MSA) has over the years confiscated around 800 Indian fishermen’s boats while the Indian Coast Guard have confiscated around 180 Pakistani fishermen’s boats, estimates PIPFPD.

Pakistan released 57 Indian boats in March this year, for the first time. Of the remaining boats, only around 250 Indian boats and about 110 Pakistani boats “will be in a position to sail after some repair work,” says PIPFPD.

Signed by Co-Chairpersons of PIPFPD Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal and Asha Hans and General Secretary Jatin Desai, the statement takes note of Mr Modi and Mr Sharif’s condemnation of terrorism in all its forms.

“We hope the meeting between the two leaders will also ease visa regime. For the effective people-to-people contact and to remove misconception about each others’ country, liberal visa regime is of prime importance,” says PIPFPD.

Peace-loving people everywhere echo these views.

— aka