Both India and Pakistan are releasing each other’s imprisoned fishermen as goodwill gestures. Unfortunately, they keep repeating the cycle
Pakistan on Thursday released 113 Indian fishermen after a similar gesture by New Delhi was announced to mark the start of Ramazan.
The fishermen, who were incarcerated in a Karachi jail for nine months to a year, were put on the Karakoram Express train bound for Lahore, from where they will be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah Border and cross back to India. Some have never traveled on a train before.
On their release, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and jail authorities presented the traditional gift of Ajrak (blockprinted shawls) to the fishermen.
The release of the Indian fishermen followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s phone call to Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday, offering Ramazan wishes and announcing the release of detained fishermen in an apparent ice-breaking move after recent provocative comments heightened bilateral tensions.
“The fishermen released will be able to be with their families to observe this blessed month,” Modi said, conveying his decision to Sharif.
He also noted the need for “peaceful” and “friendly” bilateral ties between India and Pakistan.
According to Pakistani jail authorities, another 361 Indian fishermen remain as prisoners. Most of the 113 released on Thursday have done around nine months time. The remaining 361 include 76 detainees, 157 convicts and 128 under trial prisoners.
Fishermen often cross the maritime border unknowingly, in search of better catch. When caught, they end up languishing in prison on the other side, causing great hardships to their families back home. Many are sole breadwinners.
“Who knew that we would ourselves become the catch,” said Alam Dada, one of the Indian fishermen being released.
Dada said that his wife had to clean people’s houses and wash dishes to support their six children. “Meanwhile, here in jail I was eating chicken three times a week. Once back home I won’t risk stepping inside a boat again,” he added. “I’d rather take up labour work.”
The Muslims among the Indian fishermen being released told reporters that their religion had not helped or put them in a better position than their Hindu colleagues. “The only thing that helped me was a mosque inside the jail premises where I would go to pray,” said one.
Muhammad Ali Shah, president of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, said that India would be releasing “around 200” Pakistani fishermen.
India has already communicated the decision to release 88 Pakistani fishermen to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi. They are now waiting for the “exit documents” to facilitate the move.
Modi’s call came after a war of words between the neighbouring nations, including a recent speech he delivered in Bangladesh that touched on its war and secession from Pakistan as well as a junior Indian minister’s veiled threat to carry out military operations inside Pakistani territory.
Fishermen are frequently arrested along with their boats by both India and Pakistan as the maritime border in the Arabian Sea is poorly defined, and many fishing boats lack the technology needed to be certain of their precise location.
Indian and Pakistani activists have long been demanding that the two governments set in place policies to prevent these travesties of justice from taking place.
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