(a) whether an agreement to release all civilian Indian prisoners within a stipulated time frame was entered into by India and Pakistan;
(b) if so, the status of the agreement at present ; and
(c) the time by which the prisoners are likely to be released ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)
(a) & (b) During the Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan in New Delhi on June 27-28, 2004 it was agreed that `steps would be initiated for early release of civilian prisoners`.
(c) The procedure for the release of the civilian prisoners involves the grant of consular access to the detainees. Their nationality is confirmed by their respective Government on the basis of information collected during the consular access. After confirmation of nationality and completion of the jail terms, the detainees are released and repatriated.