Pakistan has acknowledged 270 Indian fishermen in its custody, government informs Rajya Sabha

There were 77 Pakistan fishermen and 263 Pakistan civilian prisoners in India's custody while Pakistan has acknowledged that 270 fishermen and 49 civilian prisoners, who are Indian or believed to be Indian, are in their jails, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that as per the India-Pakistan 'Agreement on Consular Access' signed on May 21, 2008, lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen of each country lodged in the jails of the other are exchanged on January 1 and July 1 of every year.

"According to the lists exchanged on January 1, 2021, there were 77 Pakistan fishermen and 263 Pakistan civilian prisoners in India's custody. Pakistan has acknowledged that 270 fishermen and 49 civilian prisoners, who are Indian or believed to be Indian, are in their jails," he said.

"In addition, there is the issue of 83 missing Indian defence personnel, whose custody has not been acknowledged by Pakistan so far," he added.

( With inputs from ANI )