Pakistan has arrested 43 Indian fishermen and seized their seven boats off the coast of Karachi for allegedly entering its territorial waters, official sources in Islamabad [Images] said on Saturday.

The Pakistani Maritime Security Agency arrested them on Friday night from the southeast of Karachi. This takes the total number of Indian fishermen in Pakistani custody to over 700, the sources said.

During the secretary-level talks held in Pakistan's capital in December, Pakistan had told India that only fishermen would be repatriated, and their boats would be confiscated after provisions of consular access.

Over 100 Pakistani fishermen are languishing release from Indian prisons.