India will repatriate nine Pakistani fishermen on August 9 following an agreement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa.
“Following the agreement between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan at Ufa, Russia, the government of India has decided to repatriate nine Pakistani fishermen on August 9,” a Home Ministry statement said.
The announcement to release the Pakistani fishermen came hours after a suspected Pakistani terrorist was captured alive after he along with his accomplice attacked a BSF convoy on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Udhampur killing two personnel and injuring 11 others.
“Release and repatriation of the remaining 18 Pakistani fishermen will be considered by the government as and when their nationality is confirmed by the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi,” the statement said.
A total of 88 Pakistani fishermen were repatriated on June 21.
Modi and Sharif met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Ufa on July 10 and had agreed, apart from other issues, for release of fishermen in each other’s custody, along with their boats, within a period of 15 days.