Islamabad: Pakistan and India have exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other’s custody, a routine exercise carried out under the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access.

According to Radio Pakistan, the exchange was conducted as part of an agreement signed on May 21, 2008, which mandates that both countries share these lists biannually, on January 1 and July 1. The Government of Pakistan provided a list of 250 Indian prisoners, comprising 52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen, to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Concurrently, India submitted a list detailing 439 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani detainees, including 386 civilian prisoners and 53 fishermen, who are currently imprisoned in India.

In addition to the exchange, Pakistan urged India to release and repatriate 97 Pakistani prisoners, of which 64 are civilian prisoners and 33 are fishermen, who have completed their sentences and whose nationalities have been confirmed. Pakistan also called on India to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all Pakistani and believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners awaiting repatriation. The Government of Pakistan emphasized the need for prompt consular access to all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners to expedite the confirmation of their nationality.

Efforts to secure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners will continue, as affirmed by Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic engagements with India.