India on Wednesday asked Pakistan to provide immediate consular access to 13 civilian prisoners held by Pakistani authorities, as the two countries exchanged lists of prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody under the provisions of the 2008 agreement.
The exchange of prisoner lists twice a year and the lists of nuclear facilities that cannot be attacked in the event of hostilities on January 1 every year remain among the few diplomatic agreements that India and Pakistan are still adhering to amid the freeze in bilateral relations.
The two sides exchanged lists of prisoners and hunters through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad. India has shared lists of 386 civilian prisoners and 53 fishermen in its custody who are or are believed to be Pakistanis, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Pakistan has been asked to “provide immediate consular access to the 13 civilian prisoners in Pakistani custody, who are believed to be Indians and have not been granted consular access so far,” the statement said.
Pakistan has also been urged to expedite the release and repatriation of 188 Indian fishermen and Indian civilian prisoners after they have completed their sentences.
Pakistan has shared lists of 52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or believed to be Indian. A statement issued by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the Indian government has been asked to release and return 97 Pakistani prisoners – including 64 civilian prisoners and 33 fishermen – who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed.
Lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen are exchanged every year on 1 January and 1 July under the provisions of the 2008 Consular Access Agreement.
The Indian reading said that the government has consistently called for the early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners and fishermen, along with their boats, and missing Indian defense personnel from Pakistani prisons.
In addition, the Indian government urged the Pakistani government to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all Indian prisoners or those believed to be Indian before they are released and repatriated.
As a result of the efforts of the Indian government, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 78 civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. This includes 500 Indian fishermen and 20 civilian prisoners repatriated since 2023.
