In a statement, the Indian External Ministry said that 16 Pakistani prisoners, whose nationality has been confirmed by Pakistani authorities, are being repatriated to Pakistan via Wagah border.
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Indian authorities on Saturday released nine Pakistani fishermen as a goodwill gesture.
“There is obviously a doubt about the outcome of the talks in such a situation, ” said a Pakistani source, adding that Pakistan was seriously contemplating if this was the right time to go ahead with talks even though it was Islamabad which first proposed NSA-level talks past year.
Earlier, as many as 163 Indian fishermen were released by Pakistani government from District Jail Malir.
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According to officials posted at Attari, all the Pakistani nationals have crossed over to their country on the basis of “Emergency Travel Certificate” issued by Delhi-based Pakistan high commission. Modi and Sharif met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Ufa on July 10 and had agreed, apart from other issues, for release of fishermen in each other’s custody, along with their boats, within a period of 15 days. The two sides agreed that Pakistan’s national security adviser, Sartaj Aziz, would hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval on August 23 and 24.
