India on Monday demanded the early release of its nationals held in Pakistani prisons, including missing defence personnel, 10 civilians and 124 fishermen, as the two countries exchanged lists of prisoners in each other’s jails in line with an agreement signed in 2008. The two countries exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad. Pakistan provided a list of 52 prisoners and 209 fishermen in its custody “who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians”, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. The Indian government called for the “early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats”. “Immediate consular access has also been sought for the remaining prisoners and fishermen with the request to facilitate their earliest release and repatriation,” the statement said.

Source: Hindustan Times July 01, 2019 18:22 UTC