Pakistan releases nearly 340 fishermen from prison despite tension along Kashmir border

KARACHI, Pakistan – Pakistan has released nearly 340 Indian fishermen from prison despite recent tensions along the disputed Kashmir border.

The fishermen were released Friday from jails in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi. They boarded buses for the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore and are to be handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border on Saturday.

Longtime rivals Pakistan and India regularly release fishermen who are detained after straying into each other's waters.

But tensions are particularly high now because of repeated violence along the Kashmir border in recent weeks.

Shuja Haider Mirza is a Karachi prison official and said at least 97 Indian fishermen remain imprisoned there.

India's foreign ministry spokesman, Syed Akbaruddin, said India has far fewer Pakistani prisoners and has no imminent plans to release any.