Islamabad: At least sixty Indian fishermen have been detained by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (MSA) off the Karachi coast for illegally fishing in Pakistani waters, taking the total number of Indian fishermen held in the country's jails to over 600.

The detained fishermen were produced before the court in Karachi today (Oct 18, 2004) and were charged with entering into Pakistan's territorial waters and violating international frontiers.

The Indian fishermen were arrested by the agency's officials on October 16, off the Karachi coast, a MSA official said in Karachi. With their arrest the number of fishermen in Pakistan police custody has gone up to over 600.

Despite the thaw in ties between the two countries, the fishermen on both sides continue to get caught for violating each other's waters.

Both MSA and Indian Coast Guard officials have been promising to establish hotline facilities for coordinated action to prevent the large-scale detention of fishermen off Gujarat and Karachi coasts.