Amid tension, Pakistan and India agree to swap prisoners

Amid tension on the border between the two neighboring countries, Pakistan and India have agreed to release certain prisoners incarcerated in both the countries.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, India had made the proposal to swap prisoners in three categories of women, mentally challenged and those above 70 years of age. The decision to release Indian prisoners was made after Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif consulted with all the stakeholders.

The two neighboring countries have also agreed on the revival of the Judicial Committee mechanism, facilitating the visit of medical experts from both sides to meet and examine the mentally challenged prisoners for their repatriation.

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According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan has also made two humanitarian proposals that include exchanging of prisoners above 60 years of age and those children who are below 18 years of age.

Foreign minister said he hopes that this initiative by both the countries will lead to both making a conscious effort to de-escalate the extremely vitiated current environment and the situation along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary.

On January 8, Pakistan and India had released some of the prisoners held captive in each others country under the Consular Access Agreement. The agreement states that Pakistan and India will exchange list of prisoners twice a year on January 1 and July 1.