India on Saturday made a fresh request to Pakistan for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav and a few other Indian nationals lodged in Pakistan jails without any access to Indian diplomats in Islamabad even as the two countries exchanged a list of prisoners lodged in each other’s jails.
As per agreement between India and Pakistan signed on 21 May 2008, the two sides have to provide a comprehensive list of nationals of each country lodged in other country’s jails twice each year — on January 1 and July 1. Nearly 546 Indian nationals are lodged in Pakistan jails out of which 494 are fishermen and 52 civilians, as on date according to the list of prisoners exchanged between India and Pakistan on Saturday. The Pakistan foreign office said 219 Indian fishermen were released on January 6 and added another 77 fishermen and one civilian will be released on July 10.
“India remains committed to addressing on priority all humanitarian matters with Pakistan, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen. In this context, we await from Pakistan confirmation of nationality of those in India’s custody who are otherwise eligible for release and repatriation,” Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
The MEA said that India once again requested Pakistan to grant full and early consular access to the Indian nationals lodged in the custody of Pakistan, including Hamid Nehal Ansari and Kulbhushan Jadav. “India once again requests Pakistan for the early release and repatriation of Indian Prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats whose nationality has been confirmed by India,” the MEA said.