India repatriates 14 Pakistani prisoners after completion of imprisonment

The Indian government released 14 Pakistani prisoners, including 2 juveniles, who had completed their imprisonment, and repatriated them to their native country through the Attari-Wagah land route on Saturday.

The prisoners, who were released from Gujarat and Amritsar central jail, included 8 prisoners from Gujarat, including 2 juveniles who were arrested in 2022 for fishing in Indian waters; 6 prisoners from Amritsar central jail, including 4 cross-border smugglers who were arrested by BSF with 2 kg heroin and two pistols; and 2 individuals who had inadvertently crossed into the Indian territory from Pakistan.

The repatriated prisoners urged both governments to consider early release of fishermen who inadvertently enter each other’s territories while fishing, and to prioritise the cases of those who have completed their imprisonment.

Speaking to the media, the released prisoners shared their experiences and expressed happiness at returning home. One of the juveniles, Gulam Mustafa, said he was 13 years old when arrested in 2022 and was the only one from his group of 10 to be released. Another prisoner, Abdula Sharmili, who was arrested in 2018, said many fishermen languishing in Indian jails had completed their imprisonment and should be released without delay.