New Delhi: India and Pakistan on Sunday exchanged the lists of nationals lodged in the jails of the other country consistent with the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access between the two neighbours.
The list also includes civil prisoners and fishermen and was exchanged through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, said a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The statement said, "The agreement, which was signed on 21 May 2008, provides that a comprehensive list of nationals of each country lodged in other country's jails has to be exchanged twice each year, on January 1 and July 1."
It is said that India remains committed to addressing humanitarian matters on priority with, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's country.
“We await confirmation from Pakistan of nationality of those in India's custody who are otherwise eligible for release and repatriation. We also await consular access to those Indian nationals in Pakistan's custody, for whom it has so far not been provided including Hamid Nehal Ansari and Kulbhushan Jadhav,” it added.
