ISLAMABAD, March 9: About 300 Pakistanis are languishing in Indian jails and their repatriation will be discussed in the forthcoming secretary level talks in New Delhi, sources told Dawn on Thursday.

The sources said the talks to be held by the end of the current month would focus on the issues of terrorism and narcotics and the two sides would sign memoranda of understanding in this regard.

The narcotics control ministry had finalised a draft of the MoU on drug smuggling and its prevention, the sources said.

Pakistan and India exchanged 694 prisoners in September last year and the forthcoming visit of Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah to New Delhi will be a part of the second round of talks between the two countries.

The sources said that not only fishermen but many other Pakistanis held on different charges were languishing in Indian jails. To confirm the identity of Pakistani prisoners, the interior ministry had sent their particulars to the relevant districts for confirmation and the information had been conveyed to the Pakistan high commission in India for their release, they said.

Under an agreement signed recently between the two countries, those prisoners will be released whose national status is confirmed.