India, Pakistan Exchange Lists Of Civilian Prisoners, Fishermen In Each Other's Custody: MEA

India and Pakistan on Monday exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody through a diplomatic channel, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and July 1, the MEA statement said.

"India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody," the statement said.

India has shared the names of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Pakistan, on the other hand, shared the names of 254 Indians, including 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen, in its custody who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian, the MEA added.

The MEA added that 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014 as a result of New Delhi's sustained efforts.

The centre has called for "early release and repatriation" of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody.

"Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 185 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence. 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-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far," the statement said.

Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India, it said.

The MEA said India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's country.

"In this context, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 75 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India's custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan," the statement said.

"As a result of sustained efforts by the government, 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," it added. 

The Pakistani government also called for immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentence in India. The Pakistani government has also urged India to ensure safety, security, and well-being of all Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, awaiting their release and repatriation.