Over 700 Indians, Pakistanis languish in each other's jails

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Over 700 Indian and Pakistani civilians are currently languishing in each other's jails, an exchange of prisoners' lists revealed on Monday.

The two longtime nuclear rivals exchanged lists of prisoners in each other's custody through diplomatic channels in Islamabad and New Delhi, the capitals of Pakistan and India, respectively.

Islamabad handed over a list of 254 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistani jails, said a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.

India, for its part, shared a list of 452 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in Indian jails, the statement added.

A list of 38 missing Pakistani defense personnel, who are believed to be in India’s custody since the 1965 and 1971 wars, was also handed over by Islamabad.

These lists are exchanged simultaneously on Jan. 1 and July 1 of each year, under the Consular Access Agreement of 2008.

Pakistan has demanded the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences in India.

The two sides also urged for the safety, security, and well-being of their respective prisoners who are awaiting release and repatriation.