India has asked Pakistan to expedite the process of repatriating 254 Indian fishermen and four civilian prisoners who have completed their jail terms. India had requested the two countries to exchange lists of civilian prisoners on January 1 and July 1 of every calendar year under the 2008 agreement.
India has released a list of 343 citizens and 74 fishermen who are Pakistanis or believed to be Pakistanis. Similarly, Pakistan also released a list of 42 citizens and 266 fishermen believed to be Indians or Indians.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release of 254 Indian fishermen and four Indian civilian prisoners who have completed their sentences. India has demanded Pakistan immediately provide consular access to 12 jailed fishermen and 14 civilian prisoners. It has been told that all these people are Indians.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that Pakistan has also been requested to ensure the safety of all Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen till they are released. As a result of the government’s efforts since 2014, around 2,559 Indian fishermen and 63 prisoners have been brought back from Pakistan. Among them are 398 Indian fishermen and five prisoners who were brought back from Pakistan this year.
