ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday urged India to release and repatriate 97 Pakistani prisoners (64 civilian prisoners and 33 fishermen) who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been confirmed.
India was also urged to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all Pakistani and believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners awaiting release and repatriation.
In pursuance of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access, Pakistan and India exchanged, through diplomatic channels, the lists of prisoners in each other’s custody, the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson said. Under the Agreement, signed on 21 May 2008, both sides are required to exchange these lists on 1 January and 1 July every year, the FO statement said.
Pakistan handed over a list of 250 Indian prisoners in Pakistan (52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen) to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Simultaneously, he added that the Government of India provided a list of 439 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including 386 civilian prisoners and 53 fishermen, who are in Indian jails.
Pakistan also called for expeditious consular access to all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners to facilitate the early confirmation of their nationality, the statement said.
The spokesperson remarked that the Government of Pakistan will continue its efforts to ensure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026