Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 1: In a major development, India and Pakistan on Sunday exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen booked in the prison of both countries.
As per the Ministry of External Affairs, the list was exchanged under the provisions of the 2008 Consular Access Agreement, and such lists are exchanged on January 1 and July 1 each year. The list of the prisoners is shared via diplomatic channels.
“India and Pakistan today exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody through diplomatic channels at New Delhi and Islamabad. Under the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, such lists are exchanged every year on 01 January and 01 July,” said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement.
As per the data provided by India, a total of 434 Pakistani citizens including 339 Pakistani civilians and 95 Pakistani fishermen, are currently in Indian custody. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed to be Indians.
Meanwhile, sharing the details with the neighbouring nation, the Indian Government has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel, and fishermen along with their boats, from Pakistan`s custody.
🔊: PR NO. 0️⃣2️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣
Exchange of Lists of Prisoners between Pakistan and India
🔗⬇️https://t.co/WFK17IFLC7 pic.twitter.com/IOkADM5TY8
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 1, 2023
“In this context, India asked Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of 631 Indian fishermen and two Indian civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 30 fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed to be Indian,” the MEA said.
India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those about prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country.
In this context, India has asked Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 71 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.
