Islamabad:
Despite the tensions over low heat, Pakistan and India adhered to the bilateral agreement on consular access, since the two neighbors with nuclear weapons, through diplomatic channels, exchanged prison lists under the custody of the other.
As part of the agreement signed in 2008, the list of prisoners of Pakistan and India of exchange twice a year on January 1 and July 1. Given the ongoing tensions, the last exchange of lists was considered significant.
Many bilateral arrangements between Pakistan and India are under threat after Pahalgam’s attack that led the two countries almost close to a catastrophic war.
India before throwing strikes inside Pakistan unilaterally suspended the 1960 Indo Water Treaty. Pakistan, meanwhile, threatened to move away from Shimla Agreement in 1972, although a final decision was not yet made.
In this context, the two countries, however, implemented their understanding about consular access.
“Today (Tuesday), Pakistan and India exchanged, through the diplomatic channels, the lists of prisoners in the custody of the other. The exchange of lists took place in compliance with the agreement on Consular Access, 2008,” said a statement issued here by the foreign office.
The agreement requires that both parties share the prison lists in the custody of the other on January 1 and July 1, every year. The Ministry of External Affairs of India also issued a similar statement.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations said that the Pakistan government delivered a list of Indian Indian or believed Indian prisoners (53 civil prisoners and 193 fishermen) to a representative of the Indian high commission, Islamabad.
Simultaneously, the government of India shared a list of 463 Pakistani or believed prisoners to the Pakistani (382 civil prisoners and 81 fishermen) to a diplomat of the high commission of Pakistan, New Delhi.
He said that the Pakistan government requested immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners and fishermen, who have completed their respective sentence and whose national status was confirmed.
“A special consular access request for all prisoners believed has also been made to Pakistani, including prisoners with physical and mental problems to confirm an expedition of their national status,” according to the statement.
The Indian government has been urged to provide consular access to all those prisoners who are still expected to consume. It has also been urged to the Indian to guarantee the safety, safety and well -being of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian custody.
“The Pakistan government is still committed to addressing humanitarian issues as a priority. It will continue its efforts to guarantee the early return of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian prisons,” he said.
