Type: Parliament Questions and Answers

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number and details of Indians detained in Pakistan’s jails, till-date;
(b) the number of Indians who have completed their imprisonment period but still lodged in jails of Pakistan as on date;
(c) whether during the recent meetings of Indo-Pak Foreign Secretaries/Foreign Ministers held between two countries, any concrete steps were discussed to get such Indians released on reciprocal basis;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI S.M. KRISHNA)

(a) to (e) As per available information, presently, 582 Indian fishermen and 211 civilian prisoners are in Pakistani custody. Release of Indian prisoners from Pakistani jails has been one of the priorities of the Government. Pakistan has provided Consular Access to High Commission of India, Islamabad with respect to 33 Indian prisoners. It is believed that there are 178 other Indian nationals in Pakistani jails, who have not been provided Consular Access.
The matter was raised with Pakistan at the talks between Foreign Secretaries on February 25, 2010 in New Delhi and June 24, 2010, during Home Minister’s meeting in Islamabad on June 25 2010 and during Foreign Minister level talks in Islamabad on July 15, 2010.

Government of India has been consistently taking up the issue concerning all Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails with the Government of Pakistan at all appropriate levels. Further, an India-Pak Judicial Committee on Prisoners consisting of four retired judges from each side has been set up to recommend steps for humane treatment and expeditious release of prisoners of the respective countries in each other’s jails. The committee has so far had three meetings and has given several recommendations.

http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=220116331.

Rajya Sabha

Pakistan
South Asia