Pakistan apprehends 23 Indian fishermen, seizes 4 boats off the Gujarat coast

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on Thursday apprehended 23 Indian fishermen along with their four boats off the coast of Gujarat, an official of the National Fishworkers' Forum said.

The Indian fishermen had sailed from Porbandar a few days ago following which they were apprehended by the PMSA near the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL), Forum secretary Manish Lodhari told the Press Trust of India (PTI).

"We have learnt that at least 23 fishermen on four boats were apprehended by the PMSA near Jakhau and they were being taken to Karachi," Lodhari said.

National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF), which is based in Porbandar, is the country's only national federation of small and traditional fish workers' unions.

Three commandos of the Pakistan Marine Security Agency (PMSA) had died, one went missing, while two have been rescued by the Indian Coast Guard after an accident off the coast of Gujarat earlier this month. A fleet of boats belonging to the PMSA allegedly entered Indian territorial waters around 70 nautical miles off Jakhau port.

A boat belonging to the Pakistani agency had drowned while allegedly trying to capture around 40 Indian fishermen onboard seven boats in Indian waters on April 9. The PMSA had later released the fishermen.