India, Pakistan swap prisoner lists; New Delhi seeks access to 13 believed-to-be-Indian detainees

India and Pakistan on Wednesday exchanged lists of civil prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, in accordance with the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access.

Under the agreement, the two countries exchange such lists twice a year, on January 1 and July 1.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India shared lists of 386 civil prisoners and 53 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani nationals or believed to be Pakistani. Pakistan, in turn, shared lists of 52 civil prisoners and 198 fishermen in its custody who are Indian nationals or believed to be Indian.

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"The Government of India has consistently called for early release and repatriation of civil prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody," the ministry said in a statement.

New Delhi urged Islamabad to expedite the release and return of 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners who have completed their sentences.

India seeks consular access for 13 prisoners

India also sought immediate consular access for 13 civil prisoners in Pakistan's custody who are believed to be Indian nationals and have not yet been granted such access.

The government further called on Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian prisoners pending their release and repatriation.

The MEA said that, as a result of sustained diplomatic efforts, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 78 Indian civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. Of these, 500 fishermen and 20 civil prisoners have been repatriated since 2023.

With inputs from agencies