Pakistan Urges India to Repatriate 97 Prisoners Who Have Completed Their Sentences
Pakistan has called on India to release and repatriate 97 Pakistani prisoners who have completed their jail terms, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Wednesday.
The prisoners include 64 civilians and 33 fishermen. The request came during the latest exchange of prisoner lists between Pakistan and India under the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access.
Under the agreement, both countries exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on January 1 and July 1, to help facilitate consular access and humanitarian cooperation.
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan provided the Indian High Commission in Islamabad with a list of 250 Indian nationals in Pakistani custody, including 52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen.
In return, India shared a list of 439 individuals who are Pakistani nationals or are believed to be Pakistani. The list includes 386 civilian prisoners and 53 fishermen.
Pakistan also urged India to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all Pakistani prisoners and those believed to be Pakistani while they remain in custody.
The Foreign Office further requested prompt consular access to individuals whose nationality has yet to be confirmed, saying that such access is necessary to complete the verification process and facilitate their eventual return.
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing the early repatriation of all its citizens held in foreign prisons through diplomatic and legal channels.
The issue of prisoners remains an important humanitarian matter in relations between Pakistan and India. The Pakistan-India Judicial Committee on Prisoners, established in 2007 to help address such cases, has remained inactive since 2013 amid prolonged tensions and the suspension of broader bilateral dialogue.
