FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, US: It is gratifying to note that India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of prisoners in accordance with their bilateral agreement. However, Indians and Pakistanis alike must keep in mind that one such prisoner, Sepoy Maqbool Hussain, was in secret Indian detention for over 40 years.
His imprisonment in terrible conditions was a cruel and unnecessary ordeal that brought no strategic or tactical benefit to anyone on either side of the border, but inflicted incalculable suffering and misery on Maqbool Hussain and his family. His detention violated multiple treaties that India and Pakistan are signatory to, including the Geneva Convention and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
I cannot help but wonder how many Maqbool Hussains are or were out there. Pakistan should do everything to ensure that it holds no innocent Indian prisoners in custody. Exposing innocent people to torture is the gravest form of human rights violation, which should be prevented at all costs by both India and Pakistan.
Saad Gul
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2014.
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