India, Pakistan exchange list of prisoners through diplomatic channels
New Delhi: India and Pakistan on Wednesday exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the customary lists on July 1 of civilian prisoners and fishermen of each other’s nationality in their custody.
India handed over lists of 265 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 97 fishermen in India's custody to Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 54 civilian prisoners and 270 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians, New Delhi said, in a statement.
India has also sought expediting of the grant of visas by Pakistan to the members of a medical experts’ team and facilitation of their visit to Pakistan to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be Indian prisoners of unsound mind lodged in different jails of Pakistan, to also organise an early visit of the Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan; and to organise an early visit of a four-member team to Karachi in connection with release and repatriation of Indian fishing boats.
In a statement, the MEA said, “India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody. This is in keeping with the provisions of the 2008 Agreement under which such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and 1st July. India handed over lists of 265 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 97 fishermen in India's custody to Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 54 civilian prisoners and 270 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians.”
The MEA added, “The 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. In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 7 Indian civilian prisoners and 106 Indian fishermen to India whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan.
In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to Indian Fishermen and 18 believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners who are in Pakistan's custody.”
New Delhi further said, “The Government has also sought Pakistan to expedite the grant of visas to the members of the medical experts team and faciliate their visit to Pakistan to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be Indian prisoners of unsound mind, lodged in different jails of Pakistan; to organise early visit of the Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan; and to organise early visit of the 4-member team to Karachi in connection with release and repatriation of Indian fishing boats.”
The MEA pointed out, “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 also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 88 Pakistan prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation by Pakistan.”
