India releases 37 Pakistani prisoners
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ISLAMABAD: India on Friday released 37 Pakistani prisoners — five of them civil and the remaining 32 fishermen — and handed them over to Pakistani authorities at the Wagah border, Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam told Dawn.
However, 484 Pakistani prisoners (348 civil and 136 fishermen) still remain lodged in Indian jails. Out of these, 25 civil prisoners have completed their sentences and await repatriation.
Aslam said that on May 26, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed that 151 Indian prisoners (one civil and 150 fishermen) be released as a good will gesture towards the neighbouring country ahead of his historic visit to New Delhi to attend Narendra Modi's swearing-in as premier.
"Pakistan has always held that the issue of prisoners in our respective countries is a humanitarian one and should be taken in that spirit,” the spokeswoman remarked.
"It is our hope that the Indian government would release all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences,” she remarked.
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Comments (36) Closed
May 30, 2014 05:29pm
God bless india and pakistan !
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May 30, 2014 05:33pm
Consider Pakistan's release of 151 fishermen against India's 37! Where is your sportsman's spirit, Sir?
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May 30, 2014 05:48pm
Excellent tit for tat.
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May 30, 2014 06:05pm
Appreciate the reciprocation from India.
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May 30, 2014 07:17pm
@Azfar Dear Azfar you should understand that 37 people have completed there sentences and that's why only 37 released. Please don't go by the number what Pak released and Ind released. Something positive has happened so lets be happy. Its better not to play silly politics. Encourage it and success will follow. Are you not enough of politics. Grow up please. Get educated and educate others.
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May 30, 2014 07:28pm
Very good news and peace building baby step.
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May 30, 2014 07:39pm
@Azfar what the population ratio of Pakistan and India? You will realize you received a bigger share.
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May 30, 2014 07:58pm
clap clap clap for Modi and Sharif. such magnanimous hearts you have that you are giving freedom away to these people.
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May 30, 2014 08:04pm
Pakistan released Indian fishermen. Where is the photo evidence? No action. Just talk.
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May 30, 2014 08:11pm
Why the Indian fishermen stray in Pakistan waters and Pakistani fishermen stray in Indian waters? As because there is no boundary line in the sea water, they stray in to each other and get caught, jailed, and have to wait for the moment of exchange to please one another,as if they are prisoners of war. There should be a solution to this on going situation from India and Pakistan, where the fishermen are the victims of politics.
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May 30, 2014 08:14pm
@Azfar
4 Indians equal to 4 Pakistanis perhaps just like 1 to 10 soldiers theory?
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May 30, 2014 08:18pm
Good indeed. To make big decisions India takes more time than Pakistan. Its happening like the famous Chinese proverb but its happening! I think considering the size of India' years of complex judicial and government red tape situation would be reason for delay in discharging the justice.
On the contrary as the American saying goes... Justice delayed is Justice denied. So newly elected Govt please wake up and don't repeat mistakes done by the past Govts.
Lets hope for a good beginning and keep up wishful thinking of Development of the People and eradication of the poverty due to bad policies of both Govts.I still see rays of Hope in Pakistan and India.
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May 30, 2014 08:28pm
@Azfar the next lot will have them...dont worry...we return the favor with more intensity....in all terms.
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May 30, 2014 08:29pm
@ABRAR And God bless you too for these wonderful prayers for both the countries.
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May 30, 2014 08:30pm
May God bless people of India and Pakistan. I wish these two countries fight a war again, but this time together against ignorance and poverty.
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May 30, 2014 09:11pm
@Azfar Do you have a number that how much fishermen are in Indian jails. The fishermen whose identity is established are released. This is not a scoring game here brother. and many people like you commented on releasing fishermen. Pakistan never released any 1971 prisoners and never acknowledged their existence. Whatever india is doing, appreciate that. pointing fingers is easy
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May 30, 2014 10:24pm
@Azfar You don't understand. 37 Pakistanis are worth as much as 151 Indians if not more.
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May 30, 2014 10:50pm
No favour since they were taken prisoner illegally from Pakistani waters.
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May 30, 2014 11:03pm
So does this mean 1 Pakistani is equal to 4 Indians. Indians seem to think so. On this equation, thank you for sending our brothers home.
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May 30, 2014 11:23pm
@Azfar
Why find fault with everything?
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May 31, 2014 12:37am
The Pakistani fisherman look tougher than the Indian soldier.
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May 31, 2014 12:56am
@Zak Really??
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May 31, 2014 01:06am
@Azfar Value speaks
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May 31, 2014 01:38am
If only India and Pakistan make peace, we would be able to concentrate on tackling our real issues. For too long our nations have fought over nothing.
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May 31, 2014 02:38am
So both sides agree fishermen are not at fault, then why were they not released earlier? What if Modi and Shariff had not met? Sad situation how both India and Pakistan play with these poor fishermen and their families.
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May 31, 2014 02:42am
Taking these ordinary people prisoners is height of stupidity by India and Pakistan. It is petty stuff directed towards poor people trying to earn a living. Can they get together and put a stop to this i.e. work out another mechanism. I have no tolerance for fools, now matter how well spoken they are in diplomatic ease.
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May 31, 2014 03:20am
@Hamid Ali Tabatabai Fought over nothing? - No - fought over Kashmir independence for reasons best known to Pakistan
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May 31, 2014 03:23am
Welcome back guys. Not sure whats happy about it, its not like they were pardoned. They completed their sentences hence its not indias goodwill gesture
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May 31, 2014 05:58am
During last 3 months Pakisan release around 500 Indian prisoners but India in turn release only 37 prisoners what a shame, Indians needs to be broad minded and get a big heart now.
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May 31, 2014 06:02am
@PeaceLover the hype of 1971 prisoners of Indian origin is a hype created by Indian media, at least Pakistan allowed Indian citizens to visit pakistani jail, what India has done for Pakistani prisoners of 1971 in Indian jail?
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May 31, 2014 07:41am
@Saqib
What about our brothers held in former East Pakistan now Bangladesh? Have we forgotten them? And left them eternally to their fate.
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May 31, 2014 08:04am
big country small heart small country big heart-----151 vs 37----shamful gesture in return of big hearted pakistan goodwill which was initiated without call but in return what a thrifty move by india ---that is why people say-----bunya phir bunya he tota hai----nawaz now you see your foolishness
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May 31, 2014 08:12am
Good step. Looking forward for better relations with India. If PTI mindset allowed peace a chance.
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May 31, 2014 08:23am
@Azfar - India also has 8 times more population. So it naturally has more prisoners in Pakistani jails. Size does matter. Stop comparing with India in everything. You are too small.
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May 31, 2014 08:37am
A good start! I hope such gestures continue.
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May 31, 2014 03:03pm
@Vikram
Releasing those already completed their sentences is a legal binding & not a gesture. Except for those committing major crimes, all should be released and send back to their respective countries for facing the courts there. This will lower the burden of keeping international suspects & convicts as well avoiding unnecessary attacks on them as we saw in two cases, one each in India & Pakistan
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