Release Indian civilian prisoners: India to Pak

New Delhi: India on Thursday asked Pakistan to release and repatriate Indian civilian prisoners and missing defence personnel lodged in Pakistani jails on humanitarian grounds.  The two countries also exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen as per a 2008 agreement.

Giving details here, the Ministry of external affairs said India handed over a list of 271 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 74 fishermen who are in Indian custody.   Similarly, Pakistan shared a list of 51 civilian prisoners and 558 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed-to-be Indians, the ministry said.

Its statement said the two countries as per the agreement exchange the list twice a year on January one and July one.  “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,” it said.

“In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and  repatriation of 1 Indian civilian prisoner and 295 Indian fishermen  to India whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan,” the statement said.

In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate



consular  access to 194 fishermen and 17 civilian prisoners who are in Pakistan's  custody and are believed to be Indians, it added.

The government also requested Pakistan to expedite the grant of visas to the members of the medical experts' team and facilitate  their visit to Pakistan to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be

Indian prisoners of unsound mind, lodged in different jails of Pakistan, the ministry said. “It was also proposed to organise an early visit of the Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan,” it said.

India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody.

In this context, India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 78 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of confirmation of nationality by Islamabad.

Also, New Delhi asked Islamabad that in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan should ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civil prisoners and fishermen.