Pakistan arrests 31 Indian fishermen

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani authorities have arrested 31 Indian fishermen and seized 14 boats for allegedly violating the country's territorial waters, the Maritime Security Agency (MSA) said on Sunday.

A spokesman for MSA said that the fishermen were found within Pakistan's exclusive economic zone.

The fishermen were handed over to Docks Police in Karachi for registration of case. They would appear before a local court later.

Both countries routinely arrest each other's fishermen as there is no water boundary demarcation and the issue is part of bilateral dialogue.

The latest arrest came two weeks after Pakistan freed 179 Indian fishermen as a "goodwill gesture and a New Year gift".

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) says it is concerned about the arrest of fishermen on both sides.

"Our organization has been demanding that the governments of both countries not arrest poor fishermen as there is no border marking in the waters," said PFF chief Muhammad Ali Shah.

"Fishermen who usually unintentionally stray into the other country's waters are put into jails for years," he said.