Consular access accord: India, Pakistan exchange prisoners’ lists

India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of prisoners in each other’s custody in accordance with a 2008 consular access agreement.

According to a press release issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was handed over a list of 270 fishermen and 54 civilian inmates in Pakistan.

Likewise, India authorities shared a list of 362 Pakistani prisoners in India – 265 civilian inmates and 97 fishermen – with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, read the FO statement.

According to the agreement signed on May 21, 2008, both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year – on January 1, and July 1.

The Pakistan government has been calling for early release and repatriation of 15 Pakistani civil prisoners and 47 fishermen, who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to India.

Indian media claimed that Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of seven Indian civilian prisoners and 106 Indian fishermen to India whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Islamabad, the statement said. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to Indian fishermen and 18 believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners who are in its custody.

Earlier, Pakistan had released 360 Indian inmates, including 355 fishermen and five civilians who had completed their sentences, as a goodwill gesture in 2019.

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