NEW DELHI: India on Saturday repatriated four Pakistani prisoners via the Attari-Wagah border after they completed their sentences and whose nationality was confirmed by the Pakistani authorities.
“India attaches high priority to addressing all humanitarian issues, including early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and prisoners in Pakistan’s custody,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.
It also stated that India had secured the release of 370 Indian prisoners, including 363 fishermen, in 2017.
The release of the Pakistani prisoners comes ahead of the visit of the mother and wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national sentenced to death on the charges of espionage, to Pakistan.
Pakistan has issued visas to Jadhav’s mother and wife to meet him in a Pakistani prison on December 25.
The two women will arrive in the country through a commercial flight and will leave Pakistan the same day after the meeting, the Foreign Office said on Saturday.
Indian deputy high commissioner in Islamabad will accompany the duo during the meeting.
Pakistan had completed the preparations to arrange the meeting between Jadhav and his family next week.
The Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi had issued visas to Jadhav’s mother and wife earlier in the week.
Published in Daily Times, December 24th 2017.
