Pakistan, India exchange prisoners

New Delhi releases 22 after Islamabad set 198 free this month

LAHORE:

Despite strained relations between Pakistan and India, both the countries have initiated a series of releasing each other's prisoners.

After the release of 198 Indian fishermen by Pakistan, India also released 22 Pakistani prisoners on Friday, who returned to their homeland via the Wagah border.

From the Indian side, the inmates, including 13 civilians and nine fishermen, were released after completing their sentences.

These Pakistanis were held in various jails in India.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi played an important role in the recent releases. Temporary travel documents were provided to the released individuals from Indian jails by the high commission.

The released individuals included Mohammad Aqeel, Javed Iqbal, Mohammad Aslam, Mohammad Sahil, Zulqarnain Haider, Mohammad Mushtaq Iqbal, Imran Shahid, Manzoor Ahmed, Poorabheel, Fadah Hussain and Adeel Anjum.

Fishermen among them included Ibrahim Thim, Qasim, Achhar Sarmala, Sher Ali, Salem, Ahmad, Bakhsh, Mohammad Iqbal and Abdul Majeed.

Earlier on January 1, 2023, Pakistan and India exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other's jails; according to which, Pakistan had informed about the detention of 705 Indian prisoners under custody, including 51 civilian and 654 fishermen. Pakistan released 198 Indian fishermen this month.

On the other hand, India had informed about the detention of 434 Pakistani citizens – 339 civilian prisoners and 95 fishermen. Pakistan had demanded the release and repatriation of its 51 civilian prisoners and 94 fishermen who had completed their sentences. India managed to release only 22 of them.

Pakistan had also demanded consular access to the defence personnel who went missing during the wars of 1965 and 1971 and a special consular access to 56 civilian prisoners from India.

The 22 Pakistani citizens who have been released from India were welcomed by Pakistan Rangers Punjab at the Wagah border.

According to officials, the individuals will be handed over to their families after routine investigations and inquiries while the fishermen will be sent to Karachi with the Edhi Foundation’s assistance.