Pakistan India agree to release prisoners

Pakistan India agree to release all fishermen, civilian prisoners next month

NEW DELHI, Aug 30 (APP): Pakistan and India on Tuesday agreed to release all fishermen and civilian prisoners on September 12 this year who have completed their sentences and whose national status has been confirmed. Both sides reiterated their commitment to combat terrorism and emphasized the need for taking effective steps for complete elimination of this menace, said a Joint Press Statement, issued at the conclusion of two-day Talks held here on Terrorism and Drug Trafficking. The Joint Press Statement was readout at the crowded press conference on conclusiond of talks between Indian Home Secretary V K Duggal with Pakistan's Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmad Khan was also present on the occasion. The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere and the deliberations were frank and forthright, added the Statement. Both sides agreed to implement the decisions arrived at by the Foreign Secretaries in December 2004 on prisoners and reiterated their commitment to provide immediate notification of arrests made by either sides, provide consular access to all prisoners within three months of arrest and release prisoners immediately after completion of sentences and nationality verification, the Statement said.

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