Consular access accord: India, Pakistan exchange prisoners’ lists

ISLAMABAD:  India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of prisoners in each other’s custody in accordance with a 2008 consular access agreement.

According to a press release issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was handed over a list of 270 fishermen and 54 civilian inmates in Pakistan.

Likewise, India authorities shared a list of 362 Pakistani prisoners in India – 265 civilian inmates and 97 fishermen – with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, read the FO statement.

According to the agreement signed on May 21, 2008, both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year – on January 1, and July 1.

The Pakistan government has been calling for early release and repatriation of 15 Pakistani civil prisoners and 47 fishermen, who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to India.

Furthermore, India has been requested to provide instant consular access to 77 believed to be Pakistani civil prisoners and 113 Pakistani fishermen who are in Indian custody.

The concurrence does not inmates held on charges of espionage or other military-related offenses.

Earlier, Pakistan had released 360 Indian inmates, including 355 fishermen and five civilians who had completed their sentences, as a goodwill gesture in 2019.