• India and Pakistan exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody on July 1.

• Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and on July 1.

• India shared names of 382 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistanis or are believed-to-be-Pakistanis. 

• Similarly, Pakistan shared names of 53 civilian prisoners and 193 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed-to-be-Indians.

• Indian government has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody.

• Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 159 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence. 

• In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 26 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed-to-be-Indians and have not been provided consular access so far. 

• Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India.

• India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 80 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India’s custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.

• As a result of sustained efforts by the government, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. 

• This includes 500 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.

Agreement between India and Pakistan on Consular Access

With the objective of humane treatment of nationals of either country arrested, detained or imprisoned in the other country, the governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to  reciprocal consular facilities.

Key points of the agreement:

• Both governments shall maintain a comprehensive list of the nationals of the other country under its arrest, detention or imprisonment. The lists shall be exchanged on January 1 and July 1 each year.

• Immediate notification of any arrest, detention or imprisonment of any person of the other country shall be provided to the respective High Commission.

• Each government undertakes to expeditiously inform the other of the sentences awarded to the convicted nationals of the other country.

• Each government shall provide consular access within three months to nationals of one country, under arrest, detention or imprisonment in the other country.

• Both governments agree to release and repatriate persons within one month of confirmation of their national status and completion of sentences.

• In case of arrest, detention or sentence made on political or security grounds, each side may examine the case on its merits. 

• In special cases, which call for or require compassionate and humanitarian considerations, each side may exercise its discretion subject to its laws and regulations to allow early release and repatriation of persons.

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