India and Pakistan exchange a list of prisoners in their custody twice every year. Pakistan has handed over their list to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad of Indian prisoners lodged in Pakistan prisons.
Islamabad: Pakistan handed over a list of 261 Indian prisoners lodged in Pakistani jails to the Indian High Commission in Pakistan’s Islamabad on Monday (July 1)
Pakistan's Foreign Office said in a statement that the step was consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on May 21, 2008.
"The Government of Pakistan today handed over a list of 261 Indian prisoners (52 civil + 209 fishermen) in Pakistan to the High Commission of India in Islamabad," it said.
The Foreign Office said that the Indian Government will also share the list of Pakistani prisoners with Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Under the agreement both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody twice a year, on January 1st and July 1st, respectively.
Pakistan, in April had announced that it would release 360 Indian prisoners which also included 355 fishermen after they had completed their terms of sentence.
The prisoners were handed over to Indian authorities in four batches. India and Pakistan often arrest fishermen who violate the maritime boundaries when at sea as they are yet to demarcate the sea boundaries.
The ill-equipped boats that lack technology to specify exact locations are also responsible for fishermen crossing the boundaries without intention.
Pakistan and India have been locked in diplomatic and military tensions after the Pulwama attack on Indian CRPF when a suicide bomber rammed a fully loaded vehicle into one of the army convoy killing 44 Indian troops instantly.
Tensions escalated after Indian jets retaliated and intruded into Pakistan's airspace, bombing a suspected militant hideout near the border in February. The next day, Pakistan’s air force claimed downing the two jets and captured a pilot, who was later released.
The two South Asian nations have fought three wars in 1948, 1965 and 1971 - two of them over Kashmir - since they were partitioned in 1947.
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