New Delhi: India has 382 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen from that country in its custody, while Pakistan has 53 Indian civilians and 193 fishermen in its jails. This came to be known after the two countries exchanged lists of prisoners on Tuesday.
India has asked Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of 159 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners who have completed their sentences.
“In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 26 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
Pakistan has also been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India. This comes in the backdrop of strained diplomatic ties between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror strike and the four-day military conflict that followed.
“Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and on 1st July,” the MEA statement said.
“The Government of India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody,” it added.
According to the MEA, India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country. In this context, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 80 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India’s custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.
“As a result of sustained efforts by the Government, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. This includes 500 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date,” it has been highlighted.
