India will release 5 Pakistani prisoners on Tuesday

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Despite the recurring strife in bilateral ties, India and Pakistan continue to work together on humanitarian issues. Official sources here said India will release five more Pakistani prisoners on Tuesday.

Pakistan has been seeking the release of 54 prisoners who, it says, have completed their sentences.

India and Pakistan had in March agreed to release women prisoners and those above 70 years of age. As per the understanding, India had sought visas for a team of medical experts to examine mentally ill and elderly prisoners before their release and repatriation.

Pakistan had last month said it expected India to reciprocate its “positive gestures” as reflected in the release of Indian fishermen.

The agreement arrived at over the humanitarian issue of prisoners resulted from a meeting between foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistani high commissioner Sohail Mahmood in 2017. India had handed over a list of 250 civilian prisoners and 94 fishermen to Pakistan in January. Pakistan had also shared a list of 58 civilian prisoners and 399 fishermen in its custody.

Sources here said the two sides remained in touch over the agreement to organise visits of medical experts from both countries to examine prisoners.

India and Pakistan had also agreed to resume visits by Joint Judicial Committee which looks into the issues of fishermen and prisoners in each other’s custody.