Families seek release of 178 Indian fishermen jailed in Pakistan

Some fishermen from India, especially from Gujarat, accidentally crossed into waters belonging to Pakistan while fishing and were put in jail there.

Right now, 198 Indian fishermen are in Pakistani jails.

Of those, 178 have finished their jail time and have been confirmed as Indian citizens, so their families want them to come home.

Families and groups like the National Fishworkers Forum wrote letters to the leaders of India and Pakistan asking them to let the fishermen go as a kindness before the countries' Independence Days.

India's Independence Day is August 15 and Pakistan's is August 14.

The families say many fishermen have been stuck in prison for years, and some children have grown up without ever meeting their fathers.

They also say letters from the jailed fishermen have not reached their families since 2020.

Activists want the two countries to follow a 2008 agreement that says fishermen should be released within one month after finishing their sentences.

The Gujarat government gives families a small amount of money to help, but families want more support.

The state's deputy chief minister has promised to talk to the central government about helping bring the fishermen home.