Asif Hassan—AFP
Four boats also impounded for fishing in Pakistan’s territorial waters.
Pakistan arrested 27 Indian fishermen and impounded four boats on Saturday for allegedly fishing in its territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, a Pakistani maritime security official said.
Such arrests are frequently carried out by both countries, as the maritime border is poorly defined and many fishing boats lack the technology needed to be certain of their precise location. The fishermen often languish in jail even after serving their term, as poor diplomatic ties between the two rivals mean fulfilling official requirements can take a long time.
In August Pakistan released 163 Indian fishermen as an expression of goodwill. India often reciprocates such moves.
Muhammad Hassan Setho, a senior prison official, said there were currently 420 Indian fishermen in Karachi jail.