India, Pak exchange lists of civilian prisoners, fishermen in each other’s custody: MEA
New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) India and Pakistan on Monday exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said and 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.
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 said in a statement.
“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,” it 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.
Similarly, Pakistan has shared the names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian, the MEA added.
The government of India has called for “early release and repatriation” of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody, the ministry said.
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