ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Wednesday exchanged updated lists of prisoners held in each other’s custody under the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, while Islamabad separately rejected India’s remarks on Pakistan’s strikes on militant hideouts in Afghanistan as “baseless” and “provocative.”
Under the bilateral agreement, the two countries exchange lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in custody on January 1 and July 1 each year.
The Government of Pakistan handed over a list of 250 Indian prisoners in Pakistan (52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen) to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Simultaneously, the Government of India provided a list of 439 Pakistani or believed-to-be- Pakistani prisoners, including 386 civilian prisoners and 53 fishermen, who are in Indian jails, the Foreign Office said.
The Government of Pakistan also called for expeditious consular access to all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners to facilitate the early confirmation of their nationality.
The Government of Pakistan will continue its efforts to ensure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners.
The Foreign Office said the regular exchange of prisoner lists is part of the 2008 consular agreement aimed at facilitating the identification of each country’s nationals held in the other’s prisons.
In a separate statement, Pakistan rejected recent remarks by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding Islamabad’s military action against what Pakistan described as terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi described India’s statement as “baseless, provocative and contrary to the facts.”
“Pakistan reserves the right to take lawful, targeted and proportionate measures, in accordance with international law, to safeguard its security and protect its citizens,” the spokesperson said, adding that India’s position was “unacceptable.”
The Foreign Office accused India of repeatedly interfering in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring countries and violating the United Nations Charter. It also said India continued to suppress the right to self-determination of the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in contravention of UN resolutions.
Pakistan further alleged that India has supported and sponsored militant groups operating from Afghan territory against Pakistan, describing such actions as a violation of relevant U.N. Security Council obligations. India has consistently denied supporting militant groups targeting Pakistan.
The spokesperson said India’s allegations and “provocative statements” should not be taken seriously and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to taking all necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to ensure the security of its citizens and safeguard national interests.
