India urges Pakistan to free 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners quickly

India has urged Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners who have completed their sentences, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday. The statement came as India and Pakistan exchanged, through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad, lists of civil prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody.

Under the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, the two countries exchange these lists every year on January 1 and July 1. The government said India has shared lists of 386 civil prisoners and 53 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or believed to be Pakistani, while Pakistan has shared lists of 52 civil prisoners and 198 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or believed to be Indian.

In its statement, the ministry said, “India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civil prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody.” It added that the exchange was in line with the provisions of the bilateral agreement signed in 2008.

The ministry also said, “As a result of sustained efforts by the government of India, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 78 Indian civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. These include 500 Indian fishermen and 20 Indian civil prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.”

The MEA said the government of India has consistently called for the early release and repatriation of civil prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody.

“Pakistan has been urged to expedite the release and repatriation of 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners, who have completed their sentences. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 13 civil prisoners in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far,” it said.

The government of India has also urged Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian prisoners pending their release and repatriation. In sum, the latest exchange of prisoner lists has again been accompanied by India’s call for faster release, consular access and the welfare of those still in custody.

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