Twenty-five Pakistani citizens imprisoned in India have returned home after their release, crossing into Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border on Saturday, according to sources.
Prisoners Handed Over to Pakistani Officials
Indian authorities brought the released Pakistani citizens to the border crossing and formally handed them over to Pakistani officials.
After the handover, the necessary administrative and verification procedures were completed before the prisoners continued their journey into Pakistan.
The repatriation is part of ongoing efforts between Pakistan and India to address prisoner-related matters despite continued tensions between the two countries.
Pakistan and India Continue Prisoner Repatriations
Under an existing bilateral arrangement, Pakistan and India exchange updated lists of prisoners held in each other’s custody at the beginning of every year and again in the middle of the year.
The mechanism is intended to provide both countries with information about their citizens and fishermen detained across the border.
Prisoner releases and repatriations have continued intermittently despite strained diplomatic relations.
In May 2026, four Pakistani prisoners were repatriated through the Wagah-Attari crossing. Pakistan’s mission in New Delhi has also continued efforts to secure the release of additional Pakistani citizens detained in India.
A larger repatriation took place in September 2025, when India released 67 Pakistani prisoners. The group included 53 fishermen and 14 civilians.
Officials had said that Pakistan had released nearly 600 Indian prisoners over the preceding five years, while India had released around 200 Pakistani prisoners since 2021.
Fishermen Make Up Large Share of Prisoners
Fishermen account for a significant proportion of Pakistani and Indian nationals detained by the two countries.
Many are arrested after accidentally crossing maritime boundaries. Technical problems with fishing boats, poor weather and rough sea conditions can cause fishermen to drift into waters belonging to the neighbouring country.
Such arrests can lead to lengthy detention because the prisoners must undergo identification and legal procedures before their release.
The latest return of 25 Pakistani prisoners provides another example of continued humanitarian engagement between the two countries, even as broader diplomatic relations remain strained.
The two sides have faced serious political and security tensions in recent years, limiting high-level diplomatic engagement. However, prisoner-related arrangements have remained an area where communication and repatriation efforts have continued.
The return of the 25 citizens through Wagah offers their families an opportunity to reunite with relatives who had been held in Indian prisons.
