New Delhi: India Wednesday demanded consular access to 13 individuals in Pakistani prisons who are believed to be Indian nationals.
India and Pakistan, through diplomatic channels, exchanged lists of civil prisoners and fishermen in their respective custody. While these lists are normal diplomatic exchanges conducted twice a year, this year New Delhi sought consular access for 13 prisoners that has yet to be provided by Islamabad.
“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,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
The statement added: “The Government of India has consistently called for 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.”
The exchange of prisoners list has been in place since 2008, when both countries signed an agreement on consular access.
India shared its lists of 386 civil prisoners and 53 fishermen in its custody who hold Pakistani nationality or believed-to-be-Pakistani.
Islamabad shared a list containing 52 civil prisoners and 198 fishermen in custody who are Indian nationals or believed-to-be-Indian.
“Government of India has urged the Government of Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian prisoners, pending their release and repatriation to India,” added the Indian statement.
Under the agreement signed on 21 May 2008, both countries agreed to maintain lists of civil prisoners and fishermen in custody who hold their respective nationalities or are believed to hold the same.
The two countries exchange lists on 1 January and 1 July of each calendar year.
Pakistan issued its own statement on the exchange of prisoners and urged India to repatriate 97 prisoners held in Indian prisons who have finished their sentences and had their nationality confirmed.
In the last 12 years, India has been able to ensure the release of 2,661 fishermen and 78 civil prisoners. Roughly 500 fishermen and 20 civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023.
The large number of fishermen detained indicates the boundary issues surrounding the Sir Creek estuary that continues to plague fishermen from both countries.
Ties between India and Pakistan have been at its lowest, especially following the terrorist attack at Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last year, which left 26 people dead. India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May. The 87-hour conflict was eventually halted following military to military discussions between both sides.
(Edited by Vidhi Bhutra)
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