Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

A historic moment

It was heartening to see 583 prisoners (148 Pakistanis and 435 Indians) walk free at Wagah on Monday. But such exchanges should not be sporadic affairs, triggered by media hype over incidents such as Sarabjit Singh's conviction. It will only be a matter of a few days before both the countries find that they have the same number of prisoners from across the border. Islamabad and New Delhi must agree on a policy of releasing on a regular basis some categories of prisoners such as fishermen, those accidentally straying into the other country, and young men duped by travel agents.

Madhu Singh,
Ambala, Haryana

The occasion was an emotional reunion for many. The stories of released prisoners made a poignant reading. Most of them seemed to have crossed the border without any mala fide intention. September 12 is yet another milestone in the series of confidence building measures between India and Pakistan.

K. Murlidar,
Chennai

The release of prisoners is a significant step forward in the peace process. The issue calls for attention on two important grounds. No one should use it for gaining political mileage. And the practice of capturing people and imprisoning them for years for just crossing the border should be reviewed seriously.

M.D.S. Prabu,
Chennai

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