NEW DELHI: As many as 74 Indian defence personnel, including 54 prisoners of wars, are believed to be in Pakistani jails since 1971 but the neighbouring country has not acknowledged it so far, the government said.
Besides this, another 314 Indians are also in jails in Pakistan. This was disclosed by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed in the Rajya Sabha. “As on August 16, 2012, as many as 233 Indian civilian prisoners, 81 Indian fishermen and 74 missing defence personnel, including 54 PoWs, are believed to be in Pakistani jails,” Ahamed said.
He said the government has repeatedly taken up the matter with Pakistan through diplomatic channels and during high-level contacts for the release of Indian PoWs believed to be in that country. The matter of missing defence personnel have been raised with Pakistan during the home secretary level meeting in May this year and foreign secretary level talks last month, Ahamed said. Both the countries have agreed to sign the visa agreement at an early date, Ahamed said, adding, “The Pakistan side informed that some internal approvals were under process and the agreement will be signed once they are in place.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2012.
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