India Urges Pakistan to Repatriate 188 Fishermen, Civilian Prisoners
New Delhi– India on Wednesday urged Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of 188 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners who have completed their sentences.
The appeal came as India and Pakistan exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen held in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad.
The lists are exchanged every Jan. 1 and July 1 under the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access between the two countries.
India provided a list of 386 civilian prisoners and 53 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or believed to be Pakistani. Pakistan shared a list of 52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or believed to be Indian.
“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 Ministry of External Affairs said.
The ministry also asked Pakistan to provide immediate consular access to 13 civilian prisoners believed to be Indian who have not yet received such access.
“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,” the ministry added.
According to the ministry, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 78 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. That figure includes 500 fishermen and 20 civilian prisoners repatriated since 2023. (Source: IANS)
