India asks Pakistan to release Indian prisoners in its custody

India on Sunday called on Pakistan to release and repatriate 631 Indian fishermen and two civilian prisoners who have completed their jailterm and whose nationality has been confirmedIn addition Islamabad has also been urged to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 30 fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners who have been in Pakistans custody and are believed to be Indian the Ministry of External Affairs MEA saidIndia 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 pactAlso read India and Pakistan exchange list of nuclear installationsThe MEA said Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety security and welfare of all Indian and believedtobe Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen pending their release and repatriation to IndiaThe MEA said India shared lists of 339 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 Pakistani fishermen currently in Indian custody Similarly Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen in its custody who are Indians or are believed to be Indians it addedIndia and Pakistan today exchanged through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody the MEA said in a statementIt said the government has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats from Pakistans custodyIn this context Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 631 Indian fishermen and two Indian civilian prisoners who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan the MEA saidIt said India remains committed to addressing on priority all humanitarian matters including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each others countryIn this context India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 71 Pakistani prisoners including fishermen whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan the MEA said