LAHORE, Sept 12: Pakistan and India on Monday swapped the biggest-ever number of prisoners to bolster the ongoing peace process between the two countries. A total of 583 prisoners were exchanged at the Wagah border crossing in a festive environment on this side of the border amid back-piper tunes, drumbeating and national songs played on cassette players.

“It is a big achievement, indeed,” Interior Seretary Kamal Shah told Dawn, saying that the exchange of prisoners in such a big number was an outcome of the latest negotiations between the two countries in Delhi.

“The prisoners were not on agenda when we began the talks. It was purely our (Pakistan’s) efforts to take up the prisoners’ issue besides discussing drug trafficking and terrorism,” Mr Shah said.

“People from both sides of the border will see more positive results in the near future on the peace process.”

Pakistan handed over 435 prisoners to India, including 371 fishermen and 151 civilian prisoners, said Punjab Inspector General (Prisons) Sarfraz Mufti. In return, he added, India released 152 prisoners, including 101 civilians and 51 fishermen.

“We did our best to ensure due care to the Indian prisoners in our jails. Now they are happy on their way to be reunited with their families,” Mr Mufti added.

However, the number of Pakistani prisoners returned by India was 148 when the swap concluded in the evening, said a Pakistan Rangers official.

The prisoners had been driven to the border in police vans in which they waited for their turn as the two sides began the exchange in batches. The first batch of 64 from Pakistani side was responded to with seven prisoners from the other side at 12.30pm, and the exercise continued until 5.30pm.

Of the prisoners returned by India, at least 18 had apparently lost their mental balance, and three others were deaf and dumb.

An elderly woman, about 70, would just mutter in response to queries like who she was and for how long had she been in jail. However, she introduced herself as Bhago Begum. “Ravi, Ravi....seven years ...eight years,” she replied when asked where she was from?

Other Pakistanis alleged that they had been tortured in Indian prisons. “We were subjected to all kinds of torture,” said Bisharat Ali, 25, who added that he had strayed across the Indian side while searching for his father at the Sialkot border.

Ali said he spent 17 months in Indian prisons and “it was the worst ever experience of my life”. He, however, thanked the Pakistan and Indian governments for taking such initiatives, and appealed to the two governments to set free the remaining prisoners.

Muhammad Afzal, 35, of Lahore said he was caught in Delhi on charges of visa expiry, and was sentenced to eight years’ jail. “I cannot explain how I felt when I touched my soil. It is a new life.”

The Pakistani prisoners on their arrival were garlanded by officials from various government quarters, who also gave bucketful of flowers to the Indians before they crossed into their homeland.

All the Indian fishermen had almost a similar story to tell that they had inadvertently entered Pakistani waters, and had spent eight months in jail. “I am excited. I am happy as I had made up my mind that I will spend the rest of my life in prison,” said Chandar Kant, 30.

Most of the Indian civilian prisoners said they had gone to Turkey for their onward travel to Europe to earn a living. “I was caught in Turkey and sent to Iran from where I was deported to Pakistan,” said Surandar Singh, 28, who claimed that he had paid to a Pakistani agent for an illegal entry into Europe.

Upon their arrival, the Pakistani prisoners were taken to an interrogation facility for questioning, said an official, adding that the ailing prisoners would be hospitalised before their meeting with families.

“Life for six years without my father was really tough. It is unbelievable that my father is back with us,” said Gulzar Ahmad, who said his father Muhammad Waris, 45, was among those released.