India and Pakistan on Monday (1st July 2024) exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels at New Delhi and Islamabad. External Affairs Ministry said India has shared names of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Pakistan has shared names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian. Such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and on 1st July under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008.
External Affairs Ministry said India remains committed to addressing all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country. India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 75 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India’s custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.
