Progress made for 'Visa agreement' early signing: Pakistan and India agree to release prisoners by August 14

Pakistan and India on Wednesday agreed to release all those prisoners who have been verified and would complete their sentences, and fishermen, in each other's custody by August 14 this year.
This was agreed in the fourth round of Home/Interior Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan on 'Terrorism and Drugs Trafficking' as a part of the continuing Composite Dialogue process between the two countries.
The talks were held here on July 3 and 4. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Madhukar Gupta, Union Home Secretary, and the Pakistan delegation was headed by, Ministry of Interior Secretary Kamal Shah.
According to the joint statement issued following the two days' talks, both sides agreed to release, by August 14-15, 2007, those prisoners who have been granted consular access, whose national status has been verified and who have completed their prison sentences. Both sides welcomed the release of prisoners and fishermen by each other on the eve of these talks as a gesture of goodwill, and on humanitarian grounds.
It was also agreed that immediate steps would be taken by both sides to reconcile their numbers to facilitate their early release, on completion of necessary formalities. The two sides also agreed to release, by August 14-15, 2007, the remaining fishermen in each other's custody on completion of due process.
They further decided to take immediate steps to release the fishing boats, excluding trawlers, in each other's custody. Both sides agreed that the recently formed Committee on Prisoners, comprising eminent retired judges from the two countries, is a useful instrument to facilitate release and repatriation of prisoners who have served their prison sentences. The joint statement said that frank and candid discussions were held in a constructive and friendly atmosphere.