Lok Sabha Question No. 951 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-22
Subject: Indian Fishermen in Pakistani Jails
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Subrata Pathak, Prataprao  Jadhav, Shrirang Appa Barne, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sudheer Gupta, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.951

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2022

## INDIAN FISHERMEN IN PAKISTANI JAILS

## 951.  SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK: SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK: SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken notice that 536 Indian fishermen and three civilian prisoners are still languishing in Pakistan Jails despite   having   completed   their   jail   term   and   if   so,   the   details thereof, year-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has called for release and repatriation of civilian   prisoners   along   with   their   boats   and   accessories   from Pakistan in exchange of the lists of prisoners and fishermen in India and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the date when civilian prisoners from both the countries were last exchanged under the 2008 agreement on Consular Access;
- (d) whether any warning system or International Border demarcation has been put to guide our fishermen and to desist Pak authorities not to capture our fishermen in Indian waters, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the   specific   steps   taken   by   the   Government   to   protect   the fishermen/civilians who inadvertently cross Indian water and enter into waters of neighbouring countries and expedite their release ? ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) As per the India-Pakistan 'Agreement on Consular Access' signed on 21 May 2008, lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen of each country, lodged in the jails of the other, are exchanged on 1 January and 1 July of every year. According to the lists exchanged on 1 July 2022, Pakistan has acknowledged the custody of 633 fishermen and 49 civilian prisoners who are Indian or are believed to be Indian. In this context, the Government has asked Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of all Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan.

(b) Government attaches the highest priority to the welfare, safety and security of Indian fishermen.  Cases of apprehension of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats by Pakistan authorities are consistently raised with the  Pakistan   Government   and   it   is   conveyed   that   this   issue   may   be considered on purely humanitarian and livelihood grounds. As a result of

sustained efforts by the Government, 2160 Indian fishermen and 57 Indian fishing boats have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014.

(c) This   year,   41   Indian   prisoners   were   repatriated   from   Pakistan's custody,  including   the   last   instance   of   repatriation   on   20   June   2022. During the same period, India has repatriated 24 Pakistani prisoners from its custody, including the last instance of repatriation on 13 July 2022.

(d) Steps are taken by the Indian Coast Guard to guide Indian fishermen not to cross the perceived International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) through   various   community   interaction   programmes   for   the   fishing community. The Indian Coast Guard ships and aircrafts maintain close surveillance along the perceived IMBL and shepherd the Indian fishing boats towards Indian waters to prevent their apprehension by Pakistani authorities.

(e) As soon as cases of apprehension of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats by Pakistan are reported, immediate steps are taken by the Indian Mission in Islamabad towards seeking consular access from the Pakistan Government. All possible assistance, including legal assistance, is extended to the fishermen for their early release and repatriation, along with the release of their boats.

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