According to the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access terms, these lists are exchanged twice a year, on January 1 and July 1...
Digital Desk: As Islamabad and New Delhi exchanged lists of the fisherman and civilian prisoners they detained in its jail, Pakistan claimed on Friday that it was holding 682 Indian inmates in its prisons.
According to the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access terms, these lists are exchanged twice a year, on January 1 and July 1.
The Indian High Commission in Islamabad received a list of 682 Indian prisoners held by Pakistan, including 49 civilians and 633 fishermen.
Similarly, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was given a list of 461 Pakistani prisoners held in India by the Indian side, including 345 civilians and 116 fishermen.
On Friday, India urged Pakistan to release and send home 3 civilian prisoners and the 536 Indian fishermen who had served their jail terms and whose nationality had been verified.
Additionally, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) requested that Pakistan grant prompt consular access to 20 civilian inmates and 105 fishermen who had been held in Pakistani custody and were considered Indian citizens.
In a statement, MEA said, “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.”
“In this regard, Pakistan was requested to hasten the release and return to India 3 Indian civilian prisoners and 536 Indian fishermen who have served their sentences and whose nationality has been verified and conveyed to Pakistan,” it added.
According to the MEA, India is still committed to prioritizing all humanitarian issues, including prisoners and fishermen in each other’s countries.
Moreover, India has also requested Pakistan to take the necessary steps as soon as possible to confirm the nationality of 57 Pakistani inmates, including fishermen, whose homecoming is still pending due to Pakistan’s failure to do so.
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