India and Pakistan on Monday (1st July 2024) exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels at New Delhi and Islamabad. External Affairs Ministry said India has shared names of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Pakistan has shared names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian. Such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and on 1st July under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008.
New Delhi has called for 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 185 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence. Pakistan has also been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 47 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far. Islamabad 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.
External Affairs Ministry said India remains committed to addressing all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country. India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 75 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, two thousand 639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014.
Disclaimer: This press release is sourced from News On AIR, Prasar Bharti and Press Information Bureau India (PIB).
