KARACHI- Pakistan on Sunday released 147 Indian fishermen held fortrespassing into its territorial waters as a “goodwill gesture” to itsnuclear-armed rival India, officials said. However over 400 Pakistani farein Indian jails and many of whom have already completed their legalsentence.

“We released 147 Indian fishermen today as a goodwill gesture,”Superintendent Malir Jail Hassan Sehto told media. The freed fishermen areexpected to cross over into India on Monday.

The travel expenses of the fishermen are being borne by the EdhiFoundation. Some 262 Indian fishermen remain imprisoned at Malir jailstill, officials have said.

Indian and Pakistani fishermen are frequently detained for illegal fishingsince the Arabian Sea border is not clearly defined and many boats lack thetechnology to fix their precise location.

The fishermen often languish in jail, even after serving their terms, aspoor diplomatic ties between the two neighbours mean fulfillingbureaucratic requirements can take a long time.

Kashmir is the bone of contention between two countries. The valley hasbeen divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonialrule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have foughttwo wars over the mountainous region.