Tuesday, April 19 2005 08:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Karachi: The Pakistani coast guard arrested 36 Indian fishermen and seized their eight boats yesterday (Apr 18, 2005) for illegally entering Pakistan's waters in the Arabian Sea and fishing, an official said.

The fishermen were arrested about 170 kilometres southeast of Karachi, Pakistan's main port on the Arabian Sea, said Lt Cmdr Khawar Hassan Khan, a spokesman for the Maritime Security Agency, which made the arrests.

Khan said a ship of the agency that was on a routine patrol in the sea spotted the Indian fishermen about 34 kilometres inside Pakistani waters.

"Despite repeated warning the Indian boats illegally enter our waters to catch costly fish," Khan said adding that Indians have been handed over to the police.