Pakistan and India exchanged updated lists of prisoners on Wednesday under the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access, continuing a routine diplomatic process between the two countries.
The exchange took place in accordance with the 2008 agreement, which requires both countries to share updated prisoner lists twice each year. They exchange the information on January 1 and July 1.
According to official sources, India provided the Pakistan High Commission with a list of 735 Pakistani nationals currently held in Indian prisons. India’s Ministry of External Affairs handed the document to a senior Pakistani diplomat.
India Lists 735 Pakistani Prisoners
Official documents showed that the list includes 306 Pakistani fishermen and 429 civilian prisoners.
Meanwhile, Pakistan also fulfilled its obligation under the agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed an updated list of 250 Indian prisoners to a senior official at the Indian High Commission.
The reciprocal exchange forms part of the established consular mechanism between both neighbouring countries.
Consular Agreement Requires Twice-Yearly Exchange
The 2008 Agreement on Consular Access requires Pakistan and India to exchange updated prisoner lists every six months. Consequently, both governments conduct the exercise on January 1 and July 1 each year.
The mechanism aims to maintain official records of prisoners held in each country. Additionally, it supports consular access and facilitates communication regarding detained nationals.
Both sides completed the latest exchange without announcing any changes to the existing consular arrangement.
