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INDIA-PAKISTAN-DIPLOMACY
India confirms Pakistan handing over 30 released prisoners
NEW DELHI, Aug 13 (BSS/Xinhua) — Thirty Indian prisoners including 27
fishermen were Monday handed over to Indian authorities by Pakistan, Indian
officials confirmed.
“Pakistan today released 30 Indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture. The
prisoners, including 27 fishermen, were handed over to Indian officials at
Wagah border,” an official said.
Islamabad described the move as humanitarian gesture and expected a
similar response from New Delhi.
“This is a humanitarian gesture to mark Pakistan’s Independence day on
August 14,” a Pakistan Foreign Ministry’s statement said.
“It is our hope that the Indian side will also reciprocate in a similar
manner.”
According to Indian officials as per a government report submitted in
country’s top court last month, over 470 Indians, including 418 fishermen,
were languishing in Pakistani jails.
Fishermen of two countries are often jailed for accidentally crossing into
each other’s territory. The fishermen from the two countries traverse poorly
defined boundary in the international waters as most fishing boats lack
technologies to locate exact positions.
BSS/XINHUA/RY/1535 hrs