537 Indian prisoners lodged in Pakistani jails at present: Foreign Office

January 1, 2018

India will also share the list of Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian jails with the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi, the Foreign Office said.

On Tuesday, Pakistan shared with India a list of 537 Indian prisoners lodged in Pakistani jails as per the provisions of a bilateral agreement between the India and Pakistan.

They include 54 civilians & 483 fishermen, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement here.

“The Government of Pakistan today (Tuesday) handed over a list of 537 Indian prisoners (54 civilians & 483 fishermen) in Pakistan to the High Commission of India in Islamabad,” it said.

The step was taken under the 'Consular Access Agreement' of May 21, 2008 between Pakistan & India, the FO said.

As per the agreement, both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on January 1 & July 1.

India will also share the list of Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian jails with the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi, the FO said.

The 2 countries have adhered to the practice of exchanging the list of prisoners despite recurring tensions.

It's one of the enduring Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) agreed upon when the 2 sides were trying to disentangle the complex relationship with the help of the composite dialogue process.

Indian & Pakistani Fishermen are frequently detained for illegally fishing in each other’s territorial waters since the Arabian Sea doesn't have a clearly defined marine border & the wooden boats lack the technology to avoid drifting away.