Highlighting prisoner safety and consular access, India on Saturday urged Pakistan to return its military personnel who are considered missing in that country. The demand on the missing military personnel was made as both sides exchanged lists of prisoners in each other’s custody and India pushed for consular access to former Navy official Kulbhushan Jadhav.
“India once again requests Pakistan for the early release and repatriation of Indian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats whose nationality has been confirmed by India,” stated an official press release.
India also reiterated its demand for consular access to Mr. Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan for alleged espionage and terrorism-related activities.
“India again requested Pakistan to grant full and early consular access to the Indian nationals lodged in the custody of Pakistan, including Hamid Nehal Ansari and Kulbhushan Jadhav,” the press release stated.
Mr. Jadhav’s sentence is under a stay issued by the International Court of Justice, though certain pressure groups in Pakistan are campaigning against showing mercy to Mr. Jadhav. On Friday, two petitions were filed at the Lahore High Court seeking a directive to Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, though diplomats have indicated that Islamabad would comply with the ICJ directive . India has been demanding consular access in cases regarding Mr. Jadhav and Mr. Ansari but Pakistan has not responded positively to the requests so far.
Pact on consular access
The exchange of the list of prisoners was made according to the Agreement on Consular Access between India and Pakistan. The agreement, reached on 21 May 2008, institutionalises prisoner exchange between the two countries. Accordingly, lists of nationals lodged in jails are to be exchanged twice each year, on January 1 and July 1.
The lists, exchanged on Saturday through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, included civil prisoners, and fishermen in accordance with the Agreement on Consular Access.
“India remains committed to addressing on priority all humanitarian matters with Pakistan, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen. In this context, we await from Pakistan confirmation of nationality of those in India’s custody who are otherwise eligible for release and repatriation,” the statement said.
