Some 189 Pakistanis imprisoned in Indian jails, have gone missing, according to lists of nationals exchanged by Pakistan and India on the first day of New Year. Pakistan and India on Friday exchanged through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of their nationals, (including civil prisoners and fishermen) lodged in the jails of the other country consistent with the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access between India and Pakistan.
The lists are exchanged twice each year, on January 1 and July 1. According Indian media reports, Pakistan alleged of discrepancy from the Indian side. The Indian list showed that there were 271 Pakistani prisoners, including 17 fishermen, in India, while the Pakistani list stated that there were 460 prisoners, including 113 fishermen, from their country in Indian jails. Pakistan is expected to raise the matter with Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who will visit Islamabad on January 25 to discuss the modalities and schedule of the new comprehensive bilateral dialogue between the two countries.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016

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