ISLAMABAD, July 20: In the wake of suspension of secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India, the process to exchange about a thousand prisoners on the two sides has come to a halt, a source in the interior ministry told Dawn on Thursday.

The source said the inmates were to be released on a reciprocal basis in the next two to three months, but due to the halt of talks, they would not be exchanged as scheduled.

About 500 inmates in each of Pakistan and India are awaiting release from prisons, said a senior official of the ministry.

Pakistan and India had exchanged fishermen last month before the suspension of peace process by India in the backdrop of recent train blasts in Mumbai.

The source said the process of release of prisoners was in progress on a reciprocal basis before the suspension of talks, and the two sides had agreed to provide counsellor access to the prisoners in three months.

“This can make possible an early return of the prisoners to their homeland,” the source said.