Type: Parliament Questions and Answers

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether it is a fact that the Government of Pakistan has decided to release all the Indian fishermen who are in its custody;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government of Pakistan has taken this decision to remove mutual discord;

(d) whether Government of India has initiated any negotiation with Government of Pakistan in this regard; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) to (c) Government has seen recent media reports about announcement by Pakistan to release all Indian fishermen, who are in its custody. However no formal communication has been received from Government of Pakistan in this regard.

(d) & (e) Government consistently takes up the issue concerning the release of all Indian fishermen and their boats in Pakistani custody with the Government of Pakistan at all appropriate levels. The matter was taken up at the Foreign Secretary level talks in February 2010, June 2010, June 2011 and July 2012; at the Home/Interior Secretary level talks in March 2011 and May 2012 and at Foreign Minister level talks in July 2010, July 2011 and September 2012. The then Home Minister raised the issue during his visit to Islamabad in June 2010. This was also raised during Home Minister’s meeting with the Interior Minister of Pakistan in December 2012 in New Delhi. An India-Pakistan Judicial Committee has also been set up consisting of retired judges from both countries to ensure humane treatment and expeditious release of prisoners, including fishermen, who have completed their prison term. India-Pakistan Joint Working Group between Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) met at New Delhi on July 12, 2012 for working out a mechanism for release of fishermen and their boats who cross maritime borders inadvertently. High Commission of India, Islamabad, on a continuing basis, monitors the status of Indian prisoners including fishermen in Pakistani jails and takes up the matter with the Government of Pakistan for their early release and return of their boats. Due to Government’s consistent efforts, 677 Indian fishermen were released by Pakistan in 2012 and 7 have been released so far in 2013; 103 fishermen were released in 2011 and 454 fishermen in 2010.

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Pakistan
South Asia