Pakistan on Monday claimed that no Indian Prisoners of War (POWs) languished in its jails, but at the same permitted a delegation of families of such inmates to visit them from June one.
"Let me clarify that there are no Indian POWs in Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters in Islamabad on Monday.
However, permission has been granted to a delegation of relatives to visit 10 such prisoners in Pakistan from June one to "assuage" their feelings and to "close the chapter once for all," she said.
According to Indian officials, 13 members of POWs' families have been granted permission and their programme is being chalked out.
Aslam said the visit was arranged after a number of families approached the Indian government which in turn made the request to Pakistan. "We want to be very transparent and there is nothing to hide. This visit will take place."
She also said the issue of civilian prisoners was a 'bigger humanitarian' concern and Pakistan wanted to see the 'activation' of a committee of retired judges from the two countries to meet as soon as possible to suggest measures to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of civilian prisoners from both sides languishing in each other's jails.