Pakistan hands over list of 25 prisoners to Afghanistan for immediate release

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has handed over a list of 25 prisoners to Afghanistan with the request that financial fines be waived off and prisoners be released immediately, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbass stated, while responding to a question in the National Assembly on Monday.

During the inaugural session of Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) on July 22, 2018 in Kabul, the Foreign Secretary had raised the issue with the Afghan deputy foreign minister.

Two follow up meetings were also held with Director General (Consular Affairs) Afghan Foreign Office, she said adding that a list of 25 prisoners, who had completed their sentences, was also raised with the request that financial fines be waived off and prisoners be released.

The Pakistani Embassy in Kabul had arranged repatriation of 17 Pakistani prisoners released from Afghan jails during February 20 to August 30, 2018. An amount of US$ 200 each was also given to them for travelling to Pakistan.

On Pakistan's consistent demand for consular access to the detainees in Pul-e-Charkhi Jail in Kabul and Baghram Detention Centre, she said Afghan Government had arranged a tour for Pakistani Embassy officials to Baghram Detention Centre earlier this year.

The parliamentary secretary said the embassy officials met around 200 inmates in batches of 25 to 30, reported to be Pakistani nationals, but no individual interaction was allowed to ascertain the charges and the terms of sentences handed down to them.