The government Monday called for an early release of civilian Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails, while also seeking the release and repatriation of missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats from Pakistan’s custody.
Pakistan was asked to expedite the release of 184 Indian fishermen who have completed their sentence. In addition, it has also been asked to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 12 civilian prisoners in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed to be Indian, said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Monday.
India and Pakistan Monday exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody, the statement added.
Under the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, such lists are exchanged twice every year — on January 1 and July 1.
Pakistan has shared lists of 47 civilian prisoners and 184 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed to be Indian, the MEA said. On its part, India has shared lists of 337 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed to be Pakistani.
“… Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 184 Indian fishermen, who have completed their sentence,” the statement on Monday said.
Meanwhile, India has urged Pakistan to confirm the nationality of 65 prisoners, including fishermen, believed to be Pakistani, but whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.
India shared the list of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails with an officer of Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi, said the Pakistani statement. According to the list, there are 418 Pakistanis in Indian jails (337 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen).
Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues – not necessarily in that order – for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. … Read More 
Divya ADivya A reports on culture, tourism, media & broadcasting, visa is… read more