Pakistan moves for repatriation of Pakistani prisoners in Afghan Jails
Shares
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Foreign Minister has informed today that government of Pakistan is regularly in touch with Afghan government for access to information regarding Pakistani prisoners in Afghanistan and their repatriation to Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a written response during the Question Hour said the government has raised this issue as one of the agenda points of all bilateral engagements with Afghanistan.
He said during the inaugural session of Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace held in Kabul in July this year, the issue was discussed during talks with Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister. Pakistan embassy in Kabul has arranged repatriation of seventeen Pakistani prisoners released from Afghan jails from 20th February to 30th August this year. From the period August 20th to this month, four Pakistani prisoners were released and repatriated to Pakistan.
The Minister said Afghan government arranged a guided tour for Pakistan embassy officials in Bagram Detention Centre earlier this year, in which Afghan authorities claimed that around 200 inmates were Pakistani nationals. However, no individual interaction was allowed to ascertain the charges and terms of sentences handed down to them.
The Foreign Minister said the government is also working on an MoU for transfer of offenders and it will be shared with the Afghan side for signatures upon completion.
