New Delhi [India], India and Pakistan on Monday exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in mutual custody, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The lists were shared in accordance with the provisions of the 2008 bilateral Agreement on Consular Access, according to which the lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and July 1, a statement by the MEA said.
India has shared with Pakistan the lists of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in Indian custody.
Similarly, Pakistan has shared "the names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or believed to be Indians," according to MEA.
"The Government of India has called for the early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen with their boats and missing Indian defense personnel in Pakistan's custody. Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 185 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 47 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, who are believed to be Indians and have so far not been provided consular access," says the MEA. he said in an official statement.
"Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety and well-being of all Indian and suspected Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India," he added.
India remains committed to addressing, on a priority basis, all humanitarian issues, including those related to prisoners and fishermen in each other's countries.
"In this context, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the process of nationality verification of 75 suspected Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in Indian custody, whose repatriation is pending due to lack of nationality confirmation from Pakistan," the MEA said. .
As a result of the Government's sustained efforts, 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014.
This includes 478 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.
The lists were shared in accordance with the provisions of the 2008 bilateral Agreement on Consular Access, according to which the lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and July 1, a statement by the MEA said.
India has shared with Pakistan the lists of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in Indian custody.
Similarly, Pakistan has shared "the names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or believed to be Indians," according to MEA.
"The Government of India has called for the early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen with their boats and missing Indian defense personnel in Pakistan's custody. Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 185 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 47 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, who are believed to be Indians and have so far not been provided consular access," says the MEA. he said in an official statement.
"Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety and well-being of all Indian and suspected Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India," he added.
India remains committed to addressing, on a priority basis, all humanitarian issues, including those related to prisoners and fishermen in each other's countries.
"In this context, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the process of nationality verification of 75 suspected Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in Indian custody, whose repatriation is pending due to lack of nationality confirmation from Pakistan," the MEA said. .
As a result of the Government's sustained efforts, 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014.
This includes 478 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.
