India & Pakistan Exchange Prisoner Lists: How Many Civilians And Fishermen Are In Custody? | Exclusive Details

In a continuing adherence to bilateral diplomatic protocols, India and Pakistan have successfully conducted their biannual exchange of prisoner lists, providing updated data on civilian detainees and fishermen currently held in each other’s custody. The simultaneous exchange was facilitated through established diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad, fulfilling a critical mandate under the provisions of the bilateral agreement on consular access signed between the two neighbouring nations in May 2008.

Breaking Down the Custody Roster

The mid-year diplomatic exercise provides an explicit breakdown of the foreign nationals detained across both borders. According to official statements from the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, India has shared detailed rosters

of 439 individuals currently in its custody who are documented as Pakistani nationals or are strongly believed to be of Pakistani origin. This total comprises 386 civilian prisoners and 53 fishermen.

Simultaneously, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had handed over its official custody records to the Indian High Commission. Islamabad’s list accounts for 250 Indian nationals, or individuals believed to be Indian, currently being held across its detention facilities. This group includes 52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen, highlighting the persistent challenge of maritime border transgressions that routinely affect fishing communities operating along the international maritime boundary line.

Diplomatic Leverage and Repatriation Demands

While the exchange of registries remains a routine procedural requirement executed strictly on the first of January and the first of July each year, the latest diplomatic interaction was accompanied by firm assertions from both administrations. The Government of India utilised the platform to renew its strong demands for the early release and immediate repatriation of missing Indian defence personnel, civilian prisoners, and fishermen along with their seized boats.

New Delhi has specifically urged Islamabad to expedite the return of 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners who have already fully served their respective judicial sentences but remain incarcerated. Furthermore, Indian diplomats pressed for immediate consular access to 13 specific civilian prisoners whose nationality is believed to be Indian but who have been denied official consular meetings thus far. The Indian administration reinforced the absolute necessity for Pakistan to guarantee the safety, security, and personal welfare of all Indian detainees pending their eventual legal release.

Concurrently, the Pakistani establishment pressed its own case during the diplomatic swap, urging New Delhi to facilitate the immediate release and repatriation of 97 Pakistani prisoners, consisting of 64 civilian detainees and 33 fishermen. Islamabad maintained that these individuals have completed their court-mandated sentences and have had their national identities thoroughly verified. Despite underlying political friction, sustained consular channels over the past decade have managed to yield results, with data showing the repatriation of thousands of fishermen and civilian inmates, underscoring the vital nature of this institutionalised safety valve.