Pakistan today released 220 Indian fishermen from Malir jail in Karachi. They were arrested for what Pakistan authorities termed as violating territorial waters of Pakistan in Arabian Sea.

According to official sources, the fishermen were released as a goodwill gesture. The goodwill gesture comes amid strain in ties between the two countries after Pakistan-based terrorists attacked an Indian army base in Uri in September.

The Jail superintendent Hassan Sehto told PTI that the fishermen boarded a train to Lahore, from where they will be handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border. Sehto said the interior ministry ordered the release of the 220 fishermen while 219 are still in our custody.

Last week, the Pakistan fishermen forum claimed that Indian maritime authorities had picked up dozens of Pakistani fishermen from inside Pakistan’s territorial waters near the Gujarat coastline and taken them away, though the government has not responded to the claim so far.