New Delhi and Islamabad exchanged a list of Indian and Pakistani prisoners lodged in each other’s jails, PTI reported. The lists were shared as per a bilateral agreement on consular access signed in May 2008. The lists of prisoners have to be exchanged twice every year – January 1 and July 1.
According to the list shared by Pakistanis, there are at least 546 Indian nationals imprisoned there. Of this, 494 are fishermen and 52 are the names of civilians, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said. Pakistan said on January 6, 219 Indian fishermen were released, and on July 10, 77 more will be released along with one civilian.
The External Affairs Ministry in a statement said that New Delhi had requested Pakistan to grant consular access to all Indian nationals lodged in Pakistan jail, including Hamid Nehal Ansari and Kulbhushan Jadhav.
“India once again requests Pakistan for the early release and repatriation of Indian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats whose nationality has been confirmed by India,” the MEA said.
Mumbai’s Ansari had reportedly tried to enter Pakistan illegally from Afghanistan in 2012 to meet a girl he had befriended online. He was later arrested and the Pakistani military court had pronounced him guilty of espionage. Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 for allegedly spying for India’s Research and Analysis Wing. On June 16, the ICJ had given India until September 13 to make its submission in Jadhav’s case and Pakistan until December 13 to submit its counter-memorial.
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