Pakistan urged to expedite repatriation of 188 Indian prisoners, give consular access to others

India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of prisoners in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad. Such lists are exchanged every year on 1 January and on 1 July under provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access signed between India and Pakistan in 2008. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that lists have been shared of 386 civil prisoners and 53 fishermen in India’s custody, who are Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani.

Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 52 civil prisoners and 198 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or believed-to-be-Indian. The MEA said that 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, while the western neighbour has been urged to expedite the release and repatriation of 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners, who have completed their sentences.

Pakistan has been urged 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. India has urged Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian prisoners, pending their release and repatriation to India. The MEA noted that 2,661 Indian fishermen and 78 Indian civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014, which include 500 Indian fishermen and 20 Indian civil prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.