By IRNA,
New Delhi : India released 31 Pakistani fishermen as new year gift to the neighbouring country.
A statement, issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, said: “Thirty one Pakistani fishermen, whose nationality has been confirmed by Pakistani authorities, are being released on December 31, 2009 and will be repatriated to Pakistan via Attari on January 2, 2010.
The release of the remaining nineteen Pakistani fishermen, whose nationality has been confirmed by Pakistan, is under process and is expected to materialize in the near future.
It is hoped that Pakistan will take necessary steps at the earliest to release more than 500 Indian fishermen and over 400 Indian fishing boats still in Pakistan’s custody, said the statement.