KARACHI: India released 20 Pakistani prisoners earlier this week, some of whom were handed over to a leading social welfare organization in the country on Friday by officials in Lahore to ensure their safe return to their families.
Indian and Pakistani nationals living near the border separating the two countries can sometimes stray into each other’s territories and are routinely detained by the authorities.
The situation is even more difficult for fishermen in both countries since the frontier dividing the territorial waters of the two nuclear-armed states is not always clear. Many of these people are routinely held by the maritime agencies on both sides for illegal intrusions while these individuals venture into the Arabian Sea only to secure their livelihood.
Speaking to Arab News over the phone from Lahore, Salman Nazir, a spokesperson of the Edhi Foundation, confirmed 20 Pakistani prisoners were released by India this week who were interrogated by Pakistani authorities to ascertain their identities.
“India has released 20 inmates,” he said. “Ten have gone to their homes in Punjab while the other ten, who belong to Sindh, were handed over by paramilitary Rangers to the Edhi Foundation.”
“Out of these 10 individuals, nine are fishermen who belong to Thatta and Badin district of Sindh,” he continued.
Earlier this month, Pakistani officials released around 200 Indian fishermen from one of its prisons in the southern part of the country.
The detainees expressed happiness over their release while calling for improvement in the ties between the two neighboring countries.
“[Land] borders are known, but one cannot see border in the sea,” Mohsin Qasim, a fisherman from the Indian state of Gujarat who was detained in 2018, told Arab News. “If [bilateral] relations are good, everyone will benefit. The masses of both countries will benefit.”
India released 20 Pakistani prisoners this week, says social welfare organization
https://arab.news/g2nfh
India released 20 Pakistani prisoners this week, says social welfare organization
- Ten prisoners were handed over to the Edhi Foundation by Pakistani authorities after interrogation
- All the prisoners have been sent back to their homes in the Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Punjab
Pakistan joins 22 Muslim states, OIC to condemn Israeli FM’s visit to Somaliland
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited breakaway African region of Somaliland on January 6
- Muslim states urge Israel to withdraw Somaliland recognition, respect Somalia’s sovereignty
ISLAMABAD: A joint statement by Pakistan, 22 other Muslim states and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday condemned Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s recent visit to Somaliland as a violation of the African nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Saar’s visit to Somaliland capital Hargeisa on Jan. 6 followed Israel’s move last month to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region from Somalia, as an independent country. The move drew a sharp reaction from Muslim states, including Pakistan, who said it was in contravention of the UN Charter and international norms.
Several international news outlets months earlier reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland over the potential resettlement of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza. Muslim countries fear Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region could be part of its plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to the region.
“The said visit constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and undermines established international norms and the United Nations Charter,” the joint statement shared by Pakistan’s foreign office, read.
The joint statement was issued on behalf of 23 Muslim states, including Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Türkiye, Oman and others.
It reaffirmed support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, pointing out that respect for international law and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states was necessary for regional stability.
“Encouraging secessionist agendas are unacceptable and risk exacerbating tensions in an already fragile region,” the statement said.
The joint statement urged Israel to revoke its recognition of the breakaway region.
“Israel should fully respect Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and honor its obligations in compliance with international law, and demand immediate revocation of the recognition issued by Israel,” the statement read.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia unilaterally in 1991 as a civil war raged in the country. Somaliland has its own constitution, parliament and currency, a move that has infuriated Somalia over the years as it insists the region is part of its territory.
