ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and New Delhi exchanged lists of prisoners on Tuesday as part of an international agreement between the two countries, Pakistan’s foreign office said, despite ongoing tensions between the neighbors following their armed conflict in May.
India and Pakistan exchange the lists of prisoners in each other’s custody on January 1 and July 1 each year under the Agreement on Consular Access between both sides.
The latest development takes place despite tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, whose militaries were embroiled in a four-day conflict in May before Washington brokered a ceasefire on May 10.
“The Government of Pakistan handed over a list of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian prisoners (53 civilian prisoners and 193 fishermen) to a representative of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
It added that India shared a list of 463 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners (382 civilians and 81 fishermen) with a diplomat from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Pakistan’s foreign office demanded the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners and fishermen who have completed their respective sentences and whose national status is confirmed.
“A request for special consular access has also been made for all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including the physically- and mentally-challenged prisoners for expeditious confirmation of their national status,” the foreign office said.
The foreign office said it has urged the Indian government to provide consular access to all prisoners to whom consular access is still awaited. The Indian side has also been urged to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian custody, it said.
“The Government of Pakistan remains committed to addressing humanitarian matters as a priority,” the foreign office said. “It will continue its endeavors to ensure early return of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.”
Tensions reached a boiling point between the two when New Delhi blamed Islamabad for supporting a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. Gunmen opened fire on unarmed civilians in the attack, killing 26 in total, mostly tourists.
Pakistan denied involvement in the incident and called for an international probe. India fired missiles into Pakistan on May 7, saying it had struck “terrorist camps” in Pakistan. For four days the two countries pounded each other with artillery fire, missiles, fighter jets and drones before US President Donald Trump announced they had agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.
