NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan on Monday exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their respective custody, according to the provisions of an agreement signed in 2008.

The lists of prisoners were exchanged through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

"India handed over lists of 256 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 99 fishermen in India's custody to Pakistan. Pakistan has shared lists of 52 prisoners and 209 fishermen," the Indian foreign ministry statement said.

Under the terms of the 2008 agreement, India and Pakistan exchange lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their respective custody on 1 January and 1 July every year. According to the Indian statement, India has called for an early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats. "In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 10 Indian civil prisoners and 124 Indian fishermen whose nationality has been confirmed to India," it said.

India has also asked Pakistan to speed up the process of granting visas to members of a medical team due to visit Pakistan to assess the mental condition of those people believed to be Indians and of unsound mind lodged in different Pakistani prisons. New Delhi has also asked Islamabad to arrange for an early visit of the joint judicial committee to Pakistan and organise an early visit of a 4-member team to Karachi in connection with the release and repatriation of 22 Indian fishing boats. "Immediate consular access has also been sought for the remaining prisoners and fishermen with the request to facilitate their earliest release and repatriation," the Indian statement said.

The statement said that India was committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's country. "In this context, India has also asked Pakistan to expedite its response in the case of 88 Pakistan prisoners, including fishermen, who have completed their sentence and await repatriation for want of nationality confirmation by Pakistan," the statement added.