From correspondents in Islamabad, Pakistan, 11:30 PM IST

Pakistan will release Monday 414 Indian nationals, including 30 children, caught fishing illegally in its territorial waters last year.

Under an exchange agreement, the detainees being held in a jail in the port city of Karachi will be transported to the Wagah border crossing point in Punjab province and repatriated, prison officials told Pakistan's Jang newspaper Thursday.

The total number of Indian fishermen behind bars in Karachi's Landhi jail was put at 501 adults and 55 children.

A decision on the release of the remaining prisoners would be taken at a later stage, they added.

In return, Indian authorities were expected to simultaneously set free 136 Pakistani fishermen at Wagah, according to earlier reports.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)