Lok Sabha Question No. 3189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-16
Subject: Fishermen Issue
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KAMAL NATH, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, Shrirang Appa Barne, DHARMENDRA YADAV, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN, DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3189 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2016

## FISHERMEN ISSUE

3189.

SHRI KAMAL NATH:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether some Indian fishermen have been arrested by Pakistan recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any negotiation has been held by the Union Government  with  Pakistan  in  this  regard  and  if so, the outcome thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Ministry  has  also  suggested  the  Department  of Space to develop a technology that can inform the fishermen about  the  ocean  boundaries  of  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof and the response received thereon;
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  get  back  Indian fishermen and their boats from Pakistan custody; and
- (e) the efforts made by the Government to get the release of all the fishermen/civilians/soldiers, etc. who have completed their jail term from Pakistan's custody at the earliest?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a)     As per information available, 175 Indian fishermen have been apprehended by Pakistani authorities this year (2016) so far.

(b),  (d)  &  (e)  Government  regularly  takes  up  with  the  Pakistan authorities the issue of early release and repatriation of apprehended  Indian  prisoners  and  fishermen  as  well  as  getting regular consular access to them  and ensuring their welfare. Government also, on a continuing basis, monitors the status of all such Indian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistani jails.

The  matter  of  early  release  of  fishermen  in  each  other's custody  and  their  boats  was  discussed  during  Prime  Minister's meeting  with  Pakistan  Prime  Minister  at  Ufa  (Russia),  on  10  July 2015.  Pakistan  subsequently  released  163  fishermen  and  2  civil prisoners in 2015 and 86 fishermen and 1 civil prisoner on 8 March 2016.  Earlier, following a 9-member delegation visit to Pakistan in July 2014, fifty-seven Indian Fishing Boats (IFBs) were released by Pakistan on 23 March 2015.  Further, a 4-member delegation visited Pakistan in March 2016 for release of another 22 IFBs.

In  so  far  as  soldiers  are  concerned,  according  to  available information, 74 Missing Defence Personnel including 54 Prisoners of War are believed to be in Pakistani jails since 1971. Government has repeatedly taken up with Government of Pakistan through diplomatic  channels  and  during  high-level  contacts  the  matter  of their release. However, Pakistan does not acknowledge the presence  of  any  Indian  Prisoner  of  War  in  its  custody.  During  the visit  of  External  Affairs  Minister  to  Pakistan  in  January  2007, Pakistan  government  was  persuaded  to  receive  a  delegation  of relatives  of  Missing  Defence  Personnel  to  permit  them  to  visit prisons in Pakistan, where they are believed to be incarcerated. A delegation of relatives, accordingly, visited 10 jails in Pakistan from June 1-14, 2007. The delegation could not conclusively confirm the physical presence of the Indian Prisoners of War.

The matter of Missing Defence Personnel and Prisoners of War was  raised  with  Pakistan,  including  at  the  last  rounds  of  IndiaPakistan Home/Interior Secretary talks held in Islamabad on May 2425,  2012  and  India-Pakistan  Foreign  Secretary  level  talks  in  New Delhi on July 4-5, 2012.

- (c)      No, there is no such proposal with this Ministry nor with the Department of Space.

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