Pakistan will hand over 266 Indian fishermen released from Pakistani jails to the authorities at the border on Thursday, Minister of State for Railways Naranbhai Rathwa said on Wednesday.

The fisherman, to be released at 1100 IST, would be brought back to Gujarat by the Jammu-Tawi Express from Amritsar [Images], he told PTI in Vadodara.

At least four additional coaches would be attached to the train to bring back the fishermen.

The Gujarat government has deputed a four-member team, headed by Deputy Director of Fisheries Department H B Dave for identification of the fishermen.

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This will for the first time in the last 18 years that Pakistan is releasing Indian fishermen through a land border. Till now, such release had taken place through the sea route to Okha port in Gujarat.

Pakistan decided to release the fishermen as part of confidence building measures.

Over 600 Indian fishermen are still languishing in Pakistani jails.

The Indian Fishermen's Association had requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] during his visit to Ahmedabad on January 3 for inaugurating the Indian Science Congress, to persuade Pakistan to release their 157 boats, worth Rs 37 crore, in its custody.