Pakistanis including insane also in UT jails
Govt seeks early release, repatriation
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: Even as India and Pakistan exchanged list of civilian prisoners with India seeking release and repatriation of those detained in Pakistani jails, there are a number of persons from Jammu and Kashmir who are imprisoned in the neighbouring country. At the same time, number of Pakistani civilians are also detained in Jammu and Kashmir jails.
India today called on Pakistan to release and repatriate 356 Indian fishermen and two civilian prisoners whose nationality has already been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistani authorities.
In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 182 Indian fishermen and 17 civilian prisoners who are in Pakistan’s custody and are believed to be Indian, an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Official sources here told the Excelsior that a number of Pakistani civilian prisoners, who are not involved in militant activities, have been lodged in Jammu and Kashmir jails, who were either insane or had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB).
Almost similar is the case in Pakistani jails where civilians from Jammu and Kashmir who had mistakenly crossed the LoC and IB are lodged in Pakistani jails. One of the prisoners hailing from Kathua district was recently released from Pakistani prison after 29 years.
However, in addition, there are large numbers of Pakistani militants lodged in J&K jails.
“Pakistan has deliberately been delaying release of Indian prisoners, all of whom are civilians, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir on one pretext or the other,” sources said, adding the Indians had inadvertently strayed over to Pakistani territory and were arrested there either by the Pakistan army or Rangers.
Some 1971 War of Prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir are still untraced in Pakistan.
India made the request in the context of the exchange of the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen by both the countries as part of a practice to do so on January 1 and July 1 of every calendar year under the framework of a 2008 agreement.
The MEA said India handed over a list of 282 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 73 fishermen in India’s custody to Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 577 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed to be Indians.
It said India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen, along with their boats, by Pakistan.
“In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of two Indian civilian prisoners and 356 Indian fishermen to India whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan,” the MEA said in a statement.
In addition, it said, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 182 Indian fishermen and 17 civilian prisoners who are in Pakistan’s custody and are believed to be Indians.
“The Government also requested Pakistan to expedite the grant of visas to the members of the medical experts’ team and facilitate their visit to Pakistan to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be Indian prisoners of unsound mind, lodged in different jails of Pakistan,” the MEA said.
“It was also proposed to organise an early visit of the Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan,” it said.
The MEA said India remained 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 also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 68 Pakistan prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation by Pakistan,” the MEA said.
“In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civil prisoners and fishermen,” it said.
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