India to speed up prisoners' release

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 4. In a significant pre-summit goodwill gesture, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today unilaterally announced the Government's intent to release all civilian Pakistani prisoners, throw open academic institutions to Pakistanis and initiate steps to prevent detention of fishermen who stray into Indian waters.

The Prime Minister's initiative, on the eve of the summit, is seen here as a well thought-out effort to generate warmth towards India among a wide cross-section of the Pakistani people.

According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Prime Minister has asked the Home Ministry to expeditiously release all Pakistani ``civilian'' prisoners currently in India, ``after due process of law.''

Official sources pointed out that around 229 Pakistani prisoners may benefit from the Prime Ministers directive. Most of these Pakistanis are in custody on grounds of ``overstay'' or for not possessing valid identification papers.

In a bid to ensure that Pakistani fishermen are no longer harassed, the Prime Minister has directed the Coast Guard not to arrest those who may have inadvertently strayed into Indian waters.

``Henceforth, they (Pakistani fishermen) will be turned back after due warning.''

Seeking to encourage imports of Pakistani goods, the Prime Minister has issued instructions for reducing or eliminating tariffs on 50 types of items.

These ``tariff lines'' will be identified before August 15 this year.

The Prime Minister's focus on the economic issues in his announcement is an elaboration of his letter of May 25 where he invited the Pakistani President, General Pervez Musharraf, for talks, highly placed sources said.

In that message, the Prime Minister had stressed the need for India and Pakistan to combat ``poverty'' jointly.

Sources stressed that the economic initiative was meant to encourage direct trade between the two countries.

India and Pakistan trade goods worth around one billion ``indirectly'' through third countries. For instance, Indian goods are re-routed to Pakistan via Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.

According to a study by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, Indian capital goods are in considerable demand in Pakistan. India, on its part, will find it beneficial to import items such as cotton yarn, textiles, leather goods, fruits and vegetables from Pakistan.

In an effort to encourage young people, academics and artistes to visit India, the Prime Minister has offered 20 scholarships for Pakistani students in Indian technical institutions.

In addition, Pakistani poets, academics and writers will be invited as state guests, either individually or in groups, for a duration of one month. Besides, groups of students in Pakistani schools and universities will be invited to tour Indian academic establishments by the Government.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : HC judge raps Tamil Nadu Govt.
Next     : Pak. to free cyclist