India and Pakistan have initiated steps for the early release of prisoners in each other's country who have completed prison terms, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Friday.
Reacting to a report published in a daily in Islamabad that 457 Pakistan prisoners are languishing in Indian jails, he said the issues relating to prisoners have been discussed at the level of Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries in the recent times.
Those prisoners who have completed their term were being released in batches after establishing their identity, he said.
Local daily The News on Friday reported that 457 Pakistanis, including 10 mentally retarded and many women along with their children are languishing in 24 Indian jails for the last 20 years.
It said the Indian government apparently gave the list to Pakistan Foreign Office recently.
Indian High Commission officials here said no lists of prisoners were provided by India through the mission.
However, a senior Indian diplomat said the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was directly dealing the issues of prisoners with the Indian Home Ministry.
