Amid Indo-Pak built up post abrogation 370, families of Pakistan prisoners fear early repatriation of loved ones

JAMMU: Amid built up tension between India and Pakistan post abrogation of Art 370, apprehension rises among families of Indian spies from Jammu languishing in Pakistan jails about early release of their people through repatriation.
While there has been a regular effort from both sides to release civilian prisoners and fishermen through an agreement of repatriation, families of prisoners in Jammu fear that the process may get stalled leading to hold-up of their kin on the other side.
Harbans Lal , an Indian spy caught in an espionage and repatriated back in 1988 after serving for 11 years in Pakistan jails told The News Now that some of the families of people from Jammu languishing in Pakistan jails have become apprehensive of early release of their kin.
Informer turned Guide, Harbans started operations in 1981 from his native village Bagyal in district Kathua. A strong labour worker of 34 years, nearly 6.5 ft tall, Harbans was entrapped into the profession by the agencies as an informer first, later to entrust him with a job of facilitating other spies across the border.
Bishno Devi, 60, wife of Om Prakash, resident of Budhi, Kathua said that after a series of correspondence with Ministry of External Affairs(MEA), she had got a letter last year about likelihood of release of her husband in 2019, but fears delay after India-Pak built up.
“I got the information about my husband having completed his sentence and is serving as internee at Muzaffrabad jail,” said Bishno Devi.
Internee is a person who is categorized for release under repatriation, as told by Vinod Sawhney.
Similarly, Urmila Devi, 54, wife of Kuldip Singh, resident of Makwal whose husband is languishing in Pakistan’s Kot Lakhpat jail too has expressed the same apprehensions about repatriation of her husband under the prevailing circumstances.
India and Pakistan on July 1, 2024 exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody. Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on 1st January and on 1st July.
India shared names of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian.
The Government of India called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody. Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 185 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence.
In addition, Pakistan was asked to provide immediate consular access to the 47 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far. Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India.
India also urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 75 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India’s custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.
As a result of sustained efforts by the Government, 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. This includes 478 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.

Updated On 11/16/2024 2:55:32 AM

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