Release process of Pakistani, Indian prisoners halted

Islamabad, July 21 (UNI) The process of exchanging about a thousand prisoners between India and Pakistan has come to a halt following postponement of foreign secretary level talks between the two countries, a media report said today.

The Dawn quoted a source in the Interior Ministry as saying that the inmates were to be released on a reciprocal basis in the next two to three months, but due to the halt in talks, they would not be exchanged as scheduled.

About 500 inmates in India and equal number of prisoners in Pakistan are awaiting release from prisons, said a senior official of the ministry.

India and Pakistan had exchanged detained fishermen last month before the suspension of peace process by India in the backdrop of the recent Mumbai blasts.

The process of release of prisoners was in progress on a reciprocal basis before the suspension of the talks, and the two sides had agreed to provide consular access to the prisoners in three months.

UNI XC SHB KP1634