Type: Parliament Questions and Answers

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether hundreds of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats were captured by Pakistan Marine Security Agency (PMSA) during the last three years and the current year;

(b) if so, the details of the number of fishermen and their boats, State-wise and year-wise;

(c) the number of fishermen, civilians and prisoners of war released by Pakistan
during the said period;
(d) whether 556 Indian fishermen and 418 boats continue to be in the custody of the Pakistan;

(e) if so, the steps taken/being taken by Government for the release of remaining prisoners lodged in Pakistani Jails; and

(f) the outcome thereof?

ANSWER: THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) & (b) According to the information available, the number of fishermen captured by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) in last three years and the current year is as follows:

(c) The number of fishermen, civilian prisoners and prisoners of war released by Pakistani authorities during the last 3 years and the current year is as follows:

Pakistan does not acknowledge presence of any Indian prisoner of war in its custody.

(d) According to available information, as on 31 July 2012, 136 fishermen believed to be Indian and approximately 575 Indian boats are in Pakistan’s custody.

(e) Government has been consistently taking up the issue concerning all Indian fishermen and their boats in Pakistani custody with the Government of Pakistan at all appropriate levels. The matter was taken up at the Foreign Secretary level talks in February 2010, June 2010, June 2011 and July 2012; at the Home/Interior Secretary level talks in March 2011 and May 2012, and at Foreign Minister level talks in July 2010 and July 2011. Home Minister also raised the issue during his visit to Islamabad in June 2010. An India-Pakistan Judicial Committee has also been set up consisting of retired judges from both countries to ensure humane treatment and expeditious release of prisoners, including fishermen, who have completed their prison term. India-Pakistan Joint Working Group between Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) met at New Delhi on July 12, 2012 for working out a mechanism for release of fishermen and their boats who cross maritime borders inadvertently. High Commission of India, Islamabad, on a continuing basis, monitors the status of Indians prisoners including fishermen in Pakistani jails and takes up the matter with the Government of Pakistan for their early release and return of their boats.

(f) Due to Government’s consistent efforts, 547 Indian fishermen have been released by Pakistan in 2012 so far; 103 fishermen were released in 2011, 454 fishermen in 2010 and 100 fishermen were released in 2009.

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Pakistan
South Asia