On Monday, Pakistan and India exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other’s custody, adhering to the stipulations of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access. This agreement mandates the exchange of such information biannually, specifically on January 1 and July 1.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan provided a list of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian prisoners to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. This list included 53 civilians and 193 fishermen.
Concurrently, India furnished a list of 463 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners to a diplomat from Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi, comprising 382 civilians and 81 fishermen.
Pakistan has urged the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani nationals who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been officially verified. Islamabad also requested special consular access for all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, particularly those with physical or mental health conditions, to accelerate the confirmation of their national status.
In its communication, Pakistan further pressed India to grant consular access to all prisoners who are still awaiting it, and to guarantee the safety, security, and welfare of all Pakistani detainees held in Indian custody.
The Foreign Office reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to prioritizing humanitarian concerns and reiterated its ongoing efforts to secure the swift return of all Pakistani prisoners incarcerated in Indian jails.
