Pakistan, India exchange prisoner lists, urge release of civilians, fishermen

Islamabad: In a diplomatic exchange, Pakistan and India shared lists of prisoners held in each other's custody.

The Foreign Office said that this simultaneous exchange adhered to the Consular Access Agreement of 2008, mandating the exchange of prisoner lists on the 1st of January and 1st of July annually.

The Government of Pakistan presented a comprehensive list, consisting of 231 Indian prisoners in Pakistan, encompassing 47 civilian prisoners and 184 fishermen, to a representative from the High Commission of India in Islamabad.

In a reciprocal gesture, the Government of India shared the list of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails with an official from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

As per the provided list, a total of 418 Pakistanis are currently incarcerated in Indian prisons, comprising 337 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen. The Government of India has been asked to release and repatriate Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen who have completed their sentences and have confirmed national status.

Besides it, a formal request has been made to grant consular access to missing defense personnel from the 1965 and 1971 wars. Special consular access is also sought for 77 civil prisoners.