India returns 13 Pakistani prisoners, including 2 women and girl born in captivity

LAHORE (INP): India returned 13 Pakistani prisoners, including two women and a girl born in captivity, back to Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border on Thursday.

The two women — Mumtaz and Fatima — were apprehended on charges of drug trafficking after travelling to India via the Samjhauta Express in 2006. Fatima’s 10-year-old daughter Hina was born in captivity, as Fatima was pregnant at the time of her arrest.

Indian police handed the prisoners over to the Pakistan Rangers at the border.

Relations between the two neighbouring countries have been tense with regular instances of cross-border firing across the Line of Control (LoC).

However, the exchange of prisoners between the two countries continues intermittently. Last month, 68 Indian fishermen were released from Karachi’s Malir jail.

Pakistan freed dozens of Indian fishermen in the beginning of the year as well, while India reciprocated the move releasing 39 Pakistani prisoners in March.

Over 500 Pakistani prisoners are still languishing in Indian jails according to a list sent to Indian authorities by the Foreign Office earlier this year.