India asks Pakistan for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen, and missing Indian defence personnel

India has called for the early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody. Pakistan has also been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 183 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence.

The request came when India and Pakistan exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody on Wednesday (January 1, 2025).

The lists were exchanged through diplomatic channels, simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Such lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and on July 1 under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008.

According to the MEA, India has shared the names of 381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared names of 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian.

“The Government of India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody. Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 183 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence,” the MEA stated.

At the same time, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 18 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far. Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India, the MEA said.

The MEA said India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's country. In this context, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 76 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India’s custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.

Since 2014, 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan as a result of sustained efforts by the government. This includes 478 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date, the MEA said.