'Goodwill gesture': India to release 11 Pakistani prisoners today

New Delhi says release of prisoners a humanitarian issue

The Indian government will release on Monday at least 11 Pakistani civil prisoners languishing in different jails across the country as a "goodwill gesture".

According to a Times of India report, this is the first such gesture from the Indian side since the alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav was served death sentence by a court martial in April this year.

Indian officials said the release of prisoners was a humanitarian issue, and should not be linked to a further downturn in ties over Jadhav.

Pakistan had sought the release of the prisoners as they had all served their sentence.



Dozens of Indian and Pakistani nationals are captured in the Arabian Sea or along the border each year. They often languish in prisons even after serving their sentences, as poor diplomatic relations between the bitter nuclear foes hamper bureaucracy.