Pakistan has intimated India that a total of 457 Indians have been imprisoned in its territory for various crimes.

As per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Pakistan in 2008, the two neighbours and archrivals have to mandatorily pass on information twice in a year to each other about the details of prisoners lodged in prisons in their respective countries.

The details would have to be shared on 01st January and 01st July. On Monday, Pakistan’s External Affairs Ministry released a communiqué stating that as on New Year, there were 457 Indian prisoners in Pakistan’s territory. “399 among them are fishermen while 58 others are civilian prisoners. Among the prisoners, 146 fishermen are to be released shortly,” the announcement said.

On its part, the Govt. of India has also handed over the details of Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian prisoners; the details, however, haven’t been made available to the press.