India repatriates 25 Pakistani prisoners

As a follow-up of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif in Ufa (Russia), India on Friday announced repatriation of 25 Pakistani prisoners from Indian jails. Out of these, 16 prisoners were sent across the Attari/Wagah border on Friday while the remaining nine fishermen will be released on Saturday. 

The repatriation comes at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan remain on a high following terror strikes from Pakistan, and the latest arrest of a lashkar-e-Tayyeba militant belonging to Faisalabad in Pakistan.“Sixteen Pakistani prisoners, whose nationality has been confirmed by Pakistani authorities, are being repatriated to Pakistan via Attari/Wagah on August 7, 2015,” the MEA said in a statement. Of the 16 released on Friday, 13 were lodged in various jails of Jammu & Kashmir.

The External Affairs Ministry said that following an agreement on release of fishermen during the meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan in Ufa last month, cases have been withdrawn against nine Pakistani fishermen, who will be repatriated on Saturday. “As a follow up to the PM meeting with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in Ufa on July 10, 2015 (during which it was agreed by the two sides to release fishermen in each other’s custody along with their boats), cases against nine Pakistani fishermen have been withdrawn, their nationality confirmed with the Pakistani authorities, and they will be repatriated to Pakistan via Attari/Wagah on August 8, 2015,” the MEA said. 

The issue of releasing fishermen was raised by Pakistan PM during his meeting with Modi at Ufa saying their release is a humanitarian issue. Modi, sources said, promptly agreed to the idea. Pakistan, on its part released 163 Indian fishermen on August 2.