India Asks Pakistan For Release Of 184 Fishermen In Annual Exchange

The central government has formally requested that Pakistan release and repatriate 184 Indian fishermen. Meanwhile, all 184 Indian fishermen have completed their sentences, along with immediate consular access to the remaining 12 civilian prisoners believed to be Indian. However, it is the process of the annual exchange of lists of prisoners between the two nations, as per the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access.

Pakistan has shared lists of 47 civilian prisoners and 184 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or are believed to be Indian, the MEA said. On its part, India has shared lists of 337 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or are believed to be Pakistani. In this regard, both countries exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen every year on the 1st of January and 1st of July through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad.

Meanwhile, India has urged Pakistan to confirm the nationality of 65 prisoners, including fishermen, believed to be Pakistani but whose repatriation is pending for lack of nationality confirmation from Pakistan. According to the sources, there are 418 Pakistanis in Indian jails (337 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen).