The sustained efforts by the Government since 2014 have resulted in the release of 2639 Indian fishermen languishing in Pakistan jails. The Minister for External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar gave this information in Lok Sabha on Friday during the question hour. The information provided says that the India-Pakistan Agreement on Consular Access signed in 2008 mandates that both the countries exchange the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen lodged in the jails of the others. The lists are exchanged on January 1 and July 1 of every year.
According to the lists exchanged on July 1 this year, Pakistan has acknowledged the custody of 211 Indians including 24 fishermen from Daman and Diu. These fishermen have been provided consular access and their Indian nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to the Government of Pakistan. They have been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of Indians apprehended by them.
