By IRNA
New Delhi : With Pakistan not releasing all the 396 Indian fishermen as per an understanding between the two countries, New Delhi today indicated its unhappiness over it but said efforts will continue to ensure their freedom at the earliest.
“We have noted the government of Pakistan has announced the release of 100 fishermen and 35 prisoners,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.
“We had hoped that in accordance with the decisions announced during the Home Secretary-level talks (on July 3-4), all fishermen in custody in Pakistan as also the boats, would be released,” he said.
After the repatriation of Indian fishermen from Pakistan today, 396 fishermen will continue to be in custody there.
At least 156 Indian civilians are also stated to be in Pakistan’s custody and nationality of 47 of them has been confirmed, he said.
After the release of 35 Indian civilian prisoners by Pakistan, 121 will remain there, the spokesman said.
Sarna said India will continue efforts with Pakistan to ensure early repatriation of all Indian nationals in custody there and also look forward to release of 327 Indian boats detained by that country.
India will also set free 48 Pakistani fishermen and 24 civilian prisoners. Eight more, held on July 17, will remain in Indian custody and they will be produced for consular access shortly, Sarna said.
At least 155 Pakistani civilian prisoners will also remain in India as they are serving their sentences, he said.
During the Home Secretary-level meeting, India and Pakistan had agreed to release all fishermen before August 14 and 15, Independence days of the two countries.