Pakistan, India swap lists of fishermen, civilian prisoners

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan on Thursday shared with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad a list of 609 Indian prisoners in Pakistan, including 51 civilians and 558 fishermen.

“This step is consistent with the clause (i) of the Agreement on Consular Access between Pakistan and India, signed on 21st May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on 1st January and 1st July, respectively,” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafiz Chaudhri said.

The Indian government also simultaneously shared a list of 345 Pakistani prisoners in India including 271 civilians and 74 fishermen with the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi.

Beside swapping lists of prisoners, the two nuclear armed countries also exchange lists of their nuclear installations and facilities.

The two countries inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities on 1st January every year under the agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India. This has been done consecutively since 1st January 1992.