An Indian fisherman, identified as Babu, died in Karachi jail on Thursday, official sources told ABP LIVE. “He was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2022. Despite the completion of his sentence and confirmation of his Indian nationality, he was not released by Pakistan authorities,” the sources informed.
His death marks the eighth Indian fisherman to die in Pakistani custody in the last two years. Currently, 180 Indian fishermen who have served their sentences remain incarcerated in Pakistani jails, awaiting their release.
India has consistently raised the issue of the early release of these prisoners with Pakistan.
India-Pakistan Exchange Names Of Civilian Prisoners
On January 1, 2025, India and Pakistan exchanged, through diplomatic channels, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody, in line with the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access of 2008. The lists are exchanged annually on January 1 and July 1. India shared the names of 381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or believed to be Pakistani. Meanwhile, Pakistan shared the names of 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or believed to be Indian.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement urging Pakistan for the early release and repatriation of both civilian prisoners and fishermen, along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel. Pakistan has been requested to expedite the release of 183 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners who have completed their sentences. Furthermore, India has sought immediate consular access to 18 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed to be Indian and have not yet been granted consular access.
The Ministry also called on Pakistan to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen pending their release. “India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country,” the statement read.
In addition, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 76 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India, whose repatriation is pending due to a lack of confirmation of nationality from Pakistan.
The release also highlighted that since 2014, due to sustained efforts by the Government of India, a total of 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan. This includes 478 Indian fishermen and 13 civilian prisoners repatriated since 2023.
