Pakistan hands over list of 308 Indian prisoners, India provides list of 417 Pakistani prisoners

New Delhi: Under the provisions of a bilateral agreement, Pakistan has shared a list of 308 Indian prisoners, consisting of 42 civilians and 266 fishermen, currently held in Pakistani jails. The list was handed over to the High Commission of India in Islamabad on Saturday, as part of the regular exchange of prisoner lists between the two countries. The initiative aligns with the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access.

In response, India has provided a list of 417 Pakistani prisoners incarcerated in Indian jails, including 343 civilians and 74 fishermen. The lists exchanged by both countries aim to facilitate consular access and humanitarian considerations for prisoners held across the border.

Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) stated, "The Government of Pakistan today handed over a list of 308 Indian prisoners in Pakistan (42 civilian prisoners and 266 fishermen) to the High Commission of India in Islamabad." Similarly, the Government of India shared the list of Pakistani prisoners with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

The FO emphasised the importance of releasing and repatriating Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been confirmed. Meanwhile, India urged Pakistan to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of Indian prisoners and those believed to be Indian civilians and fishermen, until their release and repatriation.

Both Pakistan and India frequently detain fishermen for crossing the poorly demarcated maritime boundary. As part of addressing humanitarian concerns, India called upon Pakistan to expedite the necessary actions to confirm the nationality of 62 individuals believed to be Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending due to the lack of confirmation from Pakistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi reiterated India's commitment to addressing humanitarian matters, including the plight of prisoners and fishermen in each other's countries. It stated, "As a result of sustained efforts by the government, 2,559 Indian fishermen and 63 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014." This year alone, 398 Indian fishermen and five Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan.

Under the bilateral agreement, Pakistan and India exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody on January 1 and July 1 annually. The objective is to enhance communication and cooperation between the two nations regarding the welfare of prisoners and facilitate their eventual release and repatriation.