ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: Pakistan has announced that it would release 435 Indian nationals, 371 fishermen and 64 civilian prisoners detained in Pakistani jails and repatriate them to India via Wagah border on Monday. The announcement made by the foreign ministry here on Friday said: “The Government of Pakistan has decided to release 435 Indian nationals detained in Pakistani jails on 12th Sept, 2005.” It added: “The Government of Pakistan views this matter as a humanitarian issue therefore, it has been decided to release all Indian prisoner in its jails whose national status has been confirmed.”

The statement said that India had informed Pakistan that on the same day it would also release 152 Pakistani nationals, 101 civilian prisoners and 52 fishermen, detained in Indian jails

This brings the total number of prisoners to be released and repatriated from both sides to 587.

Notably this move comes just ahead of the important Musharraf-Manmohan summit in New York on Sept 14.—Q.A.