New Delhi: India on Wednesday renewed its urgent call for the immediate release and repatriation of 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners who have already completed their prison sentences in Pakistan. New Delhi also demanded immediate consular access to 13 additional civil prisoners believed to be Indian citizens, who have so far been denied such access by Pakistani authorities. The demands were put forward as New Delhi and Islamabad exchanged comprehensive lists of prisoners in each other’s custody, adhering to a long-standing bilateral mechanism.
The exchange of data was carried out simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access. Signed between the two neighbouring nations in 2008, the treaty mandates that both countries exchange updated lists of civilian prisoners and detained fishermen twice a year, specifically on January 1 and July 1.
According to an official press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India shared a list detailing 386 civil prisoners and 53 fishermen currently held in its custody who are Pakistani or believed to be Pakistani nationals. In turn, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Islamabad handed over a list of 250 Indian detainees to the Indian High Commission, comprising 52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or believed to be Indian.
Alongside the demand for repatriation, the Government of India urged Pakistan to ensure the comprehensive safety, security, and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian prisoners pending their final release. The Indian government maintains a consistent stance calling for the early release of all civil prisoners, fishermen alongside their intercepted boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistani custody. On its part, Pakistan used the diplomatic exchange to urge India to expedite the release and repatriation of 97 Pakistani prisoners, consisting of 64 civilian prisoners and 33 fishermen, whose sentences are complete and whose Pakistani nationality has been formally confirmed.
Highlighting the long-term impact of these diplomatic channels, the MEA revealed that sustained government efforts have resulted in the successful repatriation of 2,661 Indian fishermen and 78 Indian civil prisoners from Pakistan since 2014. Out of these total numbers, 500 Indian fishermen and 20 Indian civil prisoners were successfully brought home since 2023.
