India and Pakistan exchange lists of prisoners

New Delhi: As per their agreements, India and Pakistan exchanged a list of civilian detainees and fishermen in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad on Friday.

They share these lists each year on January 1 and July 1 as per their agreement on Consular Access, 2008.

India handed over a list of 404 Pakistani citizens (309 civilian detainees and 95 fishermen) held in Indian captivity, while Pakistan submitted a list of 672 people (49 detainees and 633 fishermen) in their custody who are Indian or are thought to be Indian.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi that the Government of India has emphasized that all detained civilians, missing Indian defense personnel, and fishermen and their boats are released from Pakistani custody forthwith and requested Islamabad to hasten the release and return of 539 (3 civilian prisoners and 536 fishermen) who have served their sentences and whose nationality has been verified.

Also, New Delhi has asked Islamabad to grant immediate consular access to the 20 civilian prisoners and the remaining 105 fishermen who are said to be Indians held in Pakistani custody. Also, it has urged Pakistan to clarify the nationality status of 57 Pakistani detainees, including fishermen, whose repatriation is still pending because Pakistan has not confirmed their nationality.

The two distant neighbors also share a list of their nuclear sites and facilities on January 1 of every year, since 1992 as per their agreement signed in December 1988. It is known as the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India.

(Venkatesh)