Category: 1. Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Tuesday exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other’s custody, in accordance with the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, which requires the exchange to take place twice a year—on 1st January and 1st July.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan handed over a list of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian prisoners—comprising 53 civilians and 193 fishermen—to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

Simultaneously, India shared with a Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi a list of 463 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including 382 civilians and 81 fishermen.

Pakistan has called for the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani nationals who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been verified.

Islamabad also requested special consular access for all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including those with physical or mental health conditions, to expedite the confirmation of their national status.

In its communication, Pakistan further urged India to grant consular access to all prisoners still awaiting it, and to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all Pakistani detainees in Indian custody.

The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to prioritising humanitarian matters and affirmed its continued efforts to secure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners held in Indian jails.

• Pakistan seeks access to detainees with physical, mental conditions.
• India urged to provide consular access to Pakistani prisoners.
• FO reaffirms humanitarian focus, seeks safe return of prisoners.
  

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Monday exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other’s custody, in line with the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, which mandates the exchange of such information twice annually — on January 1 and July 1.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan handed over a list of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian prisoners, including 53 civilians and 193 fishermen, to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

In parallel, India provided a list of 463 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners — comprising 382 civilians and 81 fishermen — to a diplomat from Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi.

Pakistan has called for the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani nationals who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been verified. 

Islamabad also requested special consular access for all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including those with physical or mental health conditions, to expedite the confirmation of their national status.

In its communication, Pakistan further urged India to grant consular access to all prisoners still awaiting it, and to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all Pakistani detainees in Indian custody.

The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to prioritising humanitarian matters and affirmed its continued efforts to secure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners held in Indian jails.

PARACHINAR:

In a successful operation carried out by security forces in the Teri Mangal area of Kurram District, two terrorists, namely Hafeez-ur-Rehman and Wajid Gul, were killed, security forces said on Tuesday. 

Both were wanted in connection with the shooting of schoolteachers and had bounties of Rs5 million each on their heads, according to security officials. 

Security sources said the two men were part of a group responsible for the killing of five teachers in Teri Mangal in 2023. During the exchange of fire, a local resident was injured with a gunshot wound to the leg.

On May 2023, six school teachers were killed in attacks across Upper Kurram. Officials said it began with the drive-by shooting of a teacher, Muhammad Sharif, on Solozan Road.

Read: Operation launched to bring peace to Kurram

Shortly after, armed men stormed into Teri Mangal High School, entered the staffroom, and opened fire on teachers, who were supervising examinations. Six teachers and one staff member were killed on the spot.

The deceased educators were identified as Mir Hussain, Jawad Hussain, Naveed Hussain, Jawad Ali, Muhammad Ali and Ali Hussain, all members of the Turi Bangash tribe.

Security agencies confirmed that five suspects linked to the 2023 incident were already on the police and law enforcement’s wanted list. Two of them were killed in today’s operation while the search for the remaining three fugitives continues.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government had announced bounties for Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Wajid Gul and three others in July 2024.

Security forces said further measures are being taken to maintain peace in the area and that operations will continue until the complete elimination of terrorists.

Recent violence in the region

In a separate incident last week, a roadside bomb blast in the Sharamkhel area of Pewar, also in Upper Kurram, killed four people and injured four others, police said.

According to District Police Officer Malik Habib, the explosion occurred as the victims were heading to a nearby hill to collect firewood. Two horses were also killed in the blast.

The deceased were identified as Nawab Ali, Amir Hussain, Hidayat Hussain and Manzar Ali. Three of the injured were later shifted to Peshawar for specialised care, according to Parachinar DHQ Hospital officials.

Violence in Kurram has surged in recent months. In December, more than 100 people were killed in tribal clashes that left parts of the region isolated for weeks.

ISLAMABAD  –   ISLAMABAD: Speaker Balochistan Assembly Captain (Retd) Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai on Monday called on Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

The meeting focused on fostering inter-parliamentary cooperation as a means to address the country’s key political and economic challenges.

Both dignitaries exchanged views on enhancing institutional collaboration between the National Assembly and the Balochistan Assembly.

The NA Speaker emphasised that sustained coordination among federal and provincial legislatures is essential to strengthening democratic governance and ensuring effective policymaking.

He highlighted Balochistan’s strategic role in Pakistan’s development and reaffirmed that inclusive progress cannot be achieved without the active participation of provincial assemblies.

He assured his Balochistan counterpart of the National Assembly’s full support in reinforcing the institutional effectiveness of the Balochistan Assembly, including initiatives aimed at legislative training, research, and procedural development.

Speaker Balochistan Assembly Captain (Retd) Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai underlined the importance of regular interaction between lawmakers across assemblies to share best practices, promote mutual understanding, and enhance legislative performance. He noted that inter-parliamentary engagement is key to building national unity and ensuring a coordinated approach to governance.