Pakistan on Friday said it has 682 Indian prisoners in its jails, as Islamabad and New Delhi exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen.
These lists are exchanged twice a year – on 1 January and 1 July – under the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access.
Pakistan shared a list of 682 Indian prisoners detained in the country, including 49 civilians and 633 fishermen, with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Similarly, the Indian side has also shared a list of 461 Pakistani prisoners in India, including 345 civilians and 116 fishermen, with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
India on Friday called on Pakistan to release and repatriate 536 Indian fishermen and three civilian prisoners who have completed their prison sentences and whose nationalities have been confirmed.
In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 105 fishermen and 20 civilian prisoners who are in Pakistani custody and believed to be Indians, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
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“The government calls upon the civilian prisoners, missing Indian defense personnel and fishermen along with their boats to be released and repatriated from the custody of Pakistan at the earliest,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
“In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation to India of 536 Indian fishermen and three Indian civilian prisoners who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been confirmed and to be conveyed to Pakistan.” has given.”
The Ministry of External Affairs said that India is committed to addressing all humanitarian matters relating to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country on a priority basis.
India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action to confirm the nationality status of 57 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending confirmation of nationality by Pakistan.