India and Pakistan on Tuesday exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen held in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad, officials said.
“Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and on 1st July,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday.
India has shared the names of 382 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed to be Pakistani.
Similarly, Pakistan has shared the names of 53 civilian prisoners and 193 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed to be Indian.
The Government of India has called for the early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody.
Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 159 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence.
“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 statement said.
“Pakistan has 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,” the statement said.
India ‘Prioritises’ Humanitarian Issues
The MEA said India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s countries.
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 to date.
The list exchange occurred just days after India and Pakistan were engaged in a conflict following the terror attack by Pakistan-based gunmen in the Phalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir.
India launched Operation Sindoor to target terror hubs in PoK and Pakistan in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.
Pakistan targeted several Indian cities with missiles and drones in the following days until a ceasefire was reached between the two nations.
(With inputs from IBNS)
