Pakistan has said yes to revival of the mechanism that looks into issues of fishermen and prisoners in each other’s custody. — PTI file

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi March 7

Amidst continuing bloodshed along the Line of Control, India and Pakistan today acceded to humanitarian proposals. Islamabad accepted three humanitarian gestures proposed by India on the issue of civilian prisoners on both sides. In a formal statement, Pakistan said Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has accepted proposals that include exchange of three categories of prisoners — women, mentally challenged or with special needs and those above 70 years of age. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)   Pakistan has also said yes to revival of the Joint Judicial Committee mechanism that looks into issues of fishermen and prisoners in each other’s custody. The panel last met in October 2013 in India. Also, the proposal to facilitate visit of medical experts from both sides to meet and examine the mentally-challenged prisoners for their repatriation, has been cleared by Islamabad. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj had discussed these proposals with Pakistani envoy Sohail Mahmood on October 17 last year. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said,“The officials on both sides would be working on the modalities to implement the understanding reached on the humanitarian issues.”Additionally, Pakistan has proposed the exchange of prisoners above 60 years and below 18 years of age, which is expected to be accepted soon by India, as per sources. “Through such initiatives, Pakistan and India would embark on the road to a comprehensive dialogue, and make a conscious effort to de-escalate the situation on the LoC,” said the Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement. The two neighbours have witnessed much hostility in ties over the past year after the meeting between Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav lodged in Pakistani jail and his mother and wife in Islamabad on December 25 last year. 

No signs of formal talksAmid signs of thaw in India-Pakistan ties, there is no sign yet of formal talks, with India awaiting a response to the invitation to Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, Pakistan’s Commerce and Textile Minister, to attend an informal WTO (World Trade Organisation) ministerial meeting in Delhi on March19 and 20. TNS