- Government highlights steady diplomatic efforts for early release and welfare of fishermen
- High Commission in Islamabad provides consular access, legal aid and humanitarian support
- Repatriation data shows 18 returns in 2025; 123 Gujarat fishermen still in custody
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 4
Sustained diplomatic efforts by the Government of India have led to the repatriation of 2,661 Indian fishermen from Pakistan since 2014. The information was shared in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in response to a question by MP Parimal Nathwani regarding the release of Gujarat fishermen over the past three years.
According to the reply, 18 fishermen from Gujarat have been released so far in 2025, while an estimated 123 fishermen from the state remained in Pakistan jails as of 1 January 2025. No fishermen from Gujarat were released in 2024, while 432 were repatriated in 2023.
The Minister underlined that the Government places high priority on the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. Upon receiving reports of apprehensions by Pakistani authorities, the High Commission of India in Islamabad immediately seeks consular access to verify their well-being. During these visits, officials assess their condition, provide welfare essentials and extend full legal and logistical support to ensure early release and repatriation, including efforts for the return of their boats.
He reiterated that India consistently raises the issue with Pakistan, emphasising that fishermen arrests must be treated on humanitarian and livelihood grounds.
India and Pakistan exchange lists of fishermen and civilian prisoners detained in each other’s jails twice a year—on 1 January and 1 July. As per the lists exchanged on 1 January 2025, Pakistan acknowledged 217 Indian/believed-to-be-Indian fishermen in its custody.
Since the exchange of these lists (up to March 2025), one Indian fisherman has passed away, while 22 others have been released and repatriated. Of the remaining 194 fishermen in Pakistan’s prisons, 123 are from or believed to be from Gujarat. These include 33 apprehended in 2021, 68 in 2022, 9 in 2023 and 13 in 2024.
