Islamabad: Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (MSA) has arrested 22 Indian fishermen in the Karachi coast, bringing the total number of Indian fishermen languishing in Karachi prisons to around 750.

The latest batch of Indian fishermen from Gujarat arrested yesterday (Nov 22, 2004) were part of several such detentions made by MSA. The 22 fishermen were arrested and their boats seized some 125 kms southeast of Karachi and handed over to police.

At present, around 750 Indian fishermen are in Pakistani jails as well as some 100 Pakistani fishermen in Indian jails arrested for fishing in Indian waters, all of whom await release. The two Governments have promised their release in the recent weeks, but no schedule has been announced for the same.

India expected Pakistan to release 250 of the Indian fishermen who have already been identified by Indian High Commission, before today's (Nov 23, 2004) visit of Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz to New Delhi. But the release has not materialised.

Coastguard officials of the two countries will be meeting next month to establish hotline contact as well as to discuss modalities to pursue the release of the fishermen held in both countries.