ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Foreign Minister has informed today that government ofPakistan is regularly in touch with Afghan government for access toinformation regarding Pakistani prisoners in Afghanistan and theirrepatriation to Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a written response during theQuestion Hour said the government has raised this issue as one of theagenda points of all bilateral engagements with Afghanistan.

He said during the inaugural session of Afghanistan Pakistan Action Planfor Peace held in Kabul in July this year, the issue was discussed duringtalks with Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister. Pakistan embassy in Kabul hasarranged repatriation of seventeen Pakistani prisoners released from Afghanjails from 20th February to 30th August this year. From the period August20th to this month, four Pakistani prisoners were released and repatriatedto Pakistan.

The Minister said Afghan government arranged a guided tour for Pakistanembassy officials in Bagram Detention Centre earlier this year, in whichAfghan authorities claimed that around 200 inmates were Pakistaninationals. However, no individual interaction was allowed to ascertain thecharges and terms of sentences handed down to them.

The Foreign Minister said the government is also working on an MoU fortransfer of offenders and it will be shared with the Afghan side forsignatures upon completion.