By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan and India have exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their respective custody as per provision of a 2008 agreement.
The lists of prisoners were exchanged through diplomatic channels simultaneously at Islamabad and New Delhi .
Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday handed over a list of 261 Indian prisoners, currently incarcerated in Pakistan, to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
A statement by the FO said that the 261 prisoners include 52 civilians and 209 fishermen.
“This step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on 1st January and 1st July, respectively,” read the statement.
According to India media reports, India handed over lists of 256 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 99 fishermen in India’s custody to Pakistan.
India has also asked Pakistan to expedite the grant of visas to the members of the medical experts team proposed to visit Pakistan to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be Indian prisoners of unsound mind who are lodged in different jails in that country.
