Islamabad, July 1, 2025 (TNS): Pakistan and India on Monday exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other’s custody, as part of a biannual practice under the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, which mandates such exchanges on January 1 and July 1 every year.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan handed over a list of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian prisoners, including 53 civilians and 193 fishermen, to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Simultaneously, India provided a list of 463 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, comprising 382 civilians and 81 fishermen, to a diplomat from Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi.
Pakistan has called for the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani nationals who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been verified. Islamabad also urged India to grant special consular access to all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, particularly those suffering from physical or mental health conditions, to expedite their identification and return.
Furthermore, Pakistan requested that India ensure consular access for all remaining Pakistani prisoners and take appropriate steps to safeguard the safety, security, and welfare of its citizens in Indian custody.
The Foreign Office reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to addressing humanitarian issues as a priority and reiterated its ongoing diplomatic efforts to facilitate the early return of all Pakistani detainees from Indian prisons.
