Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has demanded India to grant it access to its soldiers and civilians who went missing during the wars of 1965 and 1971, said diplomatic sources.
According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan has enlisted its demand along with the prisoners’ exchange list it shared on January 1.
Pakistan has informed the Indian Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad of its demand, the sources said. The sources said Pakistan has also sought consular access to 56 Pakistani civilian prisoners.
On Sunday, Pakistan and India exchanged lists of nuclear facilities and installations in their countries and prisoners’ lists in accordance with agreements signed between the two neighbouring countries.
The Foreign Office issued a statement in Islamabad stating: “The Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Facilities and Installations between India and Pakistan was signed on 31st December 1988, and ratified on January 27, 1991.
The Agreement, among other things, provides that both neighbouring countries shall inform each other of their nuclear facilities and installations, falling within its definition, on January 1 every year.
Agreement between Pakistan and India
“Under the pact, the list of nuclear facilities and installations in Pakistan was officially shared with Indian High Commission in Islamabad on Monday. Simultaneously, the Indian Foreign Ministry also shared the list of Indian nuclear facilities and installations with Pakistan’s High Commission representative in New Delhi.”
The Foreign Office also stated that Pakistan and India exchanged the prisoners’ lists through diplomatic channels.
The exchange of lists took place in accordance with the Consular Access Agreement of 2008. Under the Agreement, both countries must exchange the lists of prisoners every year on January 1 and July 1.
The FO concluded a request for a grant of consular access to missing soldiers of the 1965 and 1971 wars fought between the two countries, and special consular access to 56 civilian prisoners has also been made.
