India released 67 Pakistani prisoners at the Wagah-Attari border on Tuesday. The group included 53 fishermen and 14 civilians who had been in Indian jails for years.
Officials said most of the freed Pakistanis are from Karachi and coastal areas of Sindh. Many fishermen were arrested after crossing into Indian waters during fishing trips because of rough seas or boat problems. Among them were five family members who were arrested in January 2022.
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The prisoners had been kept in different jails across India, including Gujarat, Porbandar, Rajasthan, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, and Amritsar. Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi played a key role by arranging consular access, documents, and travel for their return. First Secretary Tariq Masroor was noted for his efforts in making the release possible.
One of the freed men, Muhammad Rizwan from Karachi, was only 19 when he was detained while fishing with companions. Two members of his group died in custody, while some remain in Indian jails. Rizwan was released along with his father.
Security officials in Lahore said the returnees will go through clearance and questioning before meeting their families.
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According to records exchanged on July 1, 2025, Pakistan holds 246 Indian prisoners, while India has 463 Pakistanis in custody. Pakistan has freed nearly 600 Indian prisoners in the last five years, while India has released about 200 Pakistanis since 2021.
