Lok Sabha Question No. 1884 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Mutual Release of Prisoners
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1884 ANSWERED ON- 02/08/2024 MUTUAL RELEASE OF PRISONERS

## †1884. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

- (a)   whether India and Pakistan have released prisoners belonging to each country during the last three years, till date;
- (b) if so, the prisoners freed by each country as on date, category-wise and year-wise;
- (c) whether any talks have been held to free the remaining prisoners and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether Pakistan has detained Indian citizens and if so, the number of Indian citizens under detention as on date; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government so far to free the said prisoners?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) Yes.

(b)  Year-wise and category-wise details of release of Indian and Pakistani fishermen in each other's custody, in the last three years, is tabulated below:

|                  | Indian prisoners                         | Indian prisoners                                  | Pakistani prisoners                   | Pakistani prisoners                            |
|------------------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Year             | Number of fishermen released by Pakistan | Number of civilian prisoners released by Pakistan | Number of fishermen released by India | Number of civilian prisoners released by India |
| 2021             | 20                                       | 10                                                | 15                                    | 8                                              |
| 2022             | 40                                       | 5                                                 | 6                                     | 21                                             |
| 2023             | 478                                      | 9                                                 | 27                                    | 35                                             |
| 2024 (till date) | Nil                                      | 4                                                 | Nil                                   | 4                                              |
| Total            | 538                                      | 28                                                | 48                                    | 68                                             |

(c) 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. The   matter   of   early   release   and   repatriation   of   Indian   prisoners   on humanitarian and livelihood grounds is regularly raised with the Government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels.

(d) According   to   the   lists   exchanged   on   1   July   2024,   Pakistan   has acknowledged the custody of 211 fishermen and 43 civilian prisoners who are Indian or are believed to be Indian.

(e) Government of India attaches the highest priority to the welfare, safety and security of Indian prisoners. As soon as cases of apprehension of Indian prisoners by Pakistan are reported, immediate steps are taken by the Indian

Mission in Islamabad towards seeking consular access from the Pakistan Government. During Consular Access, officials from the High Commission of India visit the Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails to ascertain their well-being and distribute daily-use welfare items. All possible assistance, including legal assistance, is extended to the Indian prisoners. *****