India, Pak to exchange prisoners on 60th I-Day

Both countries will release dozens of prisoners in the coming days to mark their 60th Independence Day celebrations.

India and Pakistan will release dozens of prisoners in the coming days to mark their 60th Independence Day celebrations, officials said in Islamabad on Wednesday.

"The prisoners will be released as a gesture of goodwill on 14th and 15th August," Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Cheema said, adding the decision was taken during home secretary-level talks between the countries in New Delhi last month.

While he confirmed that dozens of prisoners would be involved, Pakistani media reports cited the figure of more than 100.

Most are fishermen who were arrested by maritime authorities while straying across the sea border in search of a bigger catch.

HT Image

The exchange will take place at the Wagah border crossing point, where the sides handed over hundreds of prisoners in recent months as part of confidence-building measures.

Around 500 Indians are still being held in Pakistani jails, while the number of Pakistanis being held in India is said to be some 110.