India may release 11 Pakistani prisoners this week
Despite its "no-engagement with Islamabad" policy, the Indian Government on 2 November is likely to release 11 Pakistani prisoners who completed their prison sentence. In yet another sign, India is showing its policy will have no impact on the humanitarian issues between the two neighbors. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India would approve medical visas for Pakistanis in deserving cases. Read more!
Govt. makes no-engagement policy obvious ahead of international event
To show that India is not willing to have any engagement with Pakistan, the Defense Ministry last week pulled out of a multilateral Asian coast guard event in Islamabad. The Indian Coast Guard, which was to participate in the event on 24-25 October, was prevented from traveling to Pakistan at the last moment. The government also had acquired visas for the officers.
MEA achieves new heights in human diplomacy
Government officials say India will continue having a flexible position on humanitarian issues with Pakistan. Sushma Swaraj, especially, generated a lot of goodwill for the country by approving medical visas for ailing Pakistanis despite strict rules. Further, in July, Swaraj sent a strong message to Islamabad that PoK belonged to India: she granted a medical visa to a PoK resident.
India to work on a reciprocity basis for releasing prisoners
India and Pakistan keep exchanging the lists of respective nationals, including civil prisoners and fishermen, lodged in the prisons of the other country, under a 2008 agreement. While releasing Pakistani prisoners, India also expects its neighbor to release Indians who have served their sentence. As of now, there are 132 Indians in Pakistani jails; 57 of them have already completed their term.
India to stress on early, full consular access to Indians
While releasing the Pakistani prisoners, the Indian Government may also request its neighbor to grant an early and full consular access to the Indian prisoners in Pakistani custody, including ex-Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and Mumbai techie Hamid Nehal Ansari.
