India, Pak to swap elderly, mentally ill, women prisoners

THE TWO SIDES HAVE NOT HELD SUBSTANTIVE TALKS ON NORMALISING THEIR TIES SINCE PM MODI AND SUSHMA SWARAJ VISITED THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRY IN DECEMBER 2015.

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed on the exchange of elderly, mentally challenged and women prisoners and the revival of the Judicial Committee on Prisoners, which has been inactive for more than four years.

Forward movement on the humanitarian proposals – first suggested by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj during a meeting with Pakistani envoy Sohail Mehmood in October 2017 – came against the backdrop of bilateral ties strained by crossborder terrorism and fierce exchanges of fire on the LoC.

Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif said it was his “desire that through such initiatives, Pakistan and India would embark on the road to a comprehensive dialogue and make a conscious effort to de-escalate the extremely vitiated current environment and situation” on the LoC and international boundary.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced Asif had approved India’s proposals on the exchange of three categories of prisoners – “women, mentally challenged or with special needs and those above 70 years of age” – and the revival of the Judicial Committee on Prisoners.

Asif also approved a proposal to facilitate the visit of medical experts to “meet and examine the mentally challenged prisoners for their repatriation”.

The statement hinted Asif’s decision had the backing of the powerful military establishment as it said the foreign minister gave his approval “after consulting with all the stakeholders”.

In New Delhi, the external affairs ministry noted Pakistan’s positive response to Swaraj’s suggestion to work for the release and repatriation of the prisoners, which was first reported by Hindustan Times on February 27.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson said the two sides had agreed to resume visits of the Judicial Committee that looks into the issues of fishermen and other prisoners.

The Judicial Committee on Prisoners, which was formed in 2008 and comprises four retired judges from each side, had done considerable work to identify and help in the repatriation of prisoners being held in Indian and Pakistani prisons.