India and Pakistan on Tuesday exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen held in each other’s custody, as part of a practice under the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access signed in 2008. The lists were exchanged simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. The agreement mandates the exchange of such lists twice a year — on January 1 and July 1.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India handed over a list of 382 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen who are either Pakistani nationals or believed to be Pakistani. In return, Pakistan provided details of 53 civilian prisoners and 193 fishermen who are Indian or believed to be Indian nationals.
The MEA said that the government has pressed for the early release and repatriation of all Indian civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing defence personnel believed to be in Pakistan’s custody. New Delhi has asked Islamabad to expedite the release of 159 Indian prisoners and fishermen who have already completed their sentences and to grant immediate consular access to 26 individuals in Pakistan’s custody who are believed to be Indian but have not yet been provided consular access.
In its statement, the government said it remains committed to addressing all humanitarian matters on priority, including issues related to prisoners and fishermen detained in each other’s country. India has urged Pakistan to speed up the nationality verification process for 80 prisoners and fishermen lodged in Indian jails, whose repatriation is pending due to the lack of confirmation of their citizenship.
Since 2014, sustained diplomatic efforts have resulted in the repatriation of 2,661 Indian fishermen and 71 civilian prisoners from Pakistan. This figure includes 500 fishermen and 13 civilian prisoners who have returned to India since 2023.