India on Wednesday night released six Pakistani prisoners from the Amritsar central jail as a goodwill gesture.

The prisoners were identified as Mohamed Ashiq, Sachin Seikh, Amir Salim, Arshad Khan, Rao Ikram and Asif Ali.

Talking to the media, all the released prisoners said they had never expected such a sudden release and expressed their gratitude to the Indian government.

Rao Ikram and Asif Ali, believed to be part-time journalists, claimed to have strayed into the Indian territory on their motorbike.

All the released prisoners had been arrested under section 3/34/20 of the Indian Foreign passport Act.