India and Pakistan release civilian prisoners

India released 38 civilian Pakistani prisoners, who completed their sentences, through Wagah border in northwest India's Punjab on Friday.

“The 38 Pakistanis set free at Wagah had completed their sentences and were released after their nationality was confirmed by officials from the Pakistani High Commission (embassy) in New Delhi,” an Indian Home Ministry spokesman said.

The rest of civilian prisoners are still under trial or have not completed their sentences.

Pakistan also released 19 Indian civilian prisoners. But the other 20 fishermen were supposed to reach Wagah from Pakistan on the same day but were delayed by a breakdown of their vehicle, as reported.

“We are disappointed to note that the 240 fishermen whose national status has already been confirmed were not released today despite the understanding,” India’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Whereas, India had released 59 Pakistani fishermen in its custody on May 29 this year. However, 30 Pakistani fishermen are in Indian custody after being arrested in the first week of June. India will provide consular access to them on July 13.

India and Pakistan reached the understanding, at the Home Secretary level talks in Islamabad in late May, to release fishermen and civilian prisoners who served their sentences.

Pakistan had previously said that it was holding 434 Indian civilian prisoners. As per the two countries have said they would free the prisoners in batches.

Pakistan has given India a list of 493 civilian Pakistani prisoners it says are being held in Indian jails but Indian authorities have not commented on the figure.

The Pakistani prisoners who were set free were lodged in Kot Bhalwal jails in Jammu, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Sangrur and Amritsar.