India repatriates six Pakistani prisoners

India has repatriated six Pakistani prisoners back to their country, the external affairs ministry said.“Six Pakistan prisoners were repatriated today via Attari/Wagah border,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday. “In addition, four Pakistan prisoners have been released and repatriated in 2018, so far.”“India attaches high priority to addressing all humanitarian issues, including the early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and prisoners in Pakistan’s custody,” the statement said, adding that India has secured the release of 147 Indian prisoners, including 146 fishermen, from Pakistan so far this year.In October last year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj suggested that the two sides could progress on humanitarian issues related to elderly, women, children and mentally unsound prisoners, when Pakistan’s High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood called on her after freshly assuming office.And in March this year, then-Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif approved the humanitarian proposals received from India regarding civilian prisoners incarcerated in the two countries.