On the eve of their Independence Day, both India and Pakistan have decided to exchange civilian prisoners caught in each other’s country. While Pakistan released a troupe of 134 Indian prisoners, India will discharge Pakistan captives on Tuesday.

India and Pakistan have for long been catching civilians straying across borders or water limits. While few of the prisoners continue languishing in jails, few lucky ones are liberated and shipped to their country, few unlucky others are kept confined without a trial for years.

In most of the cases, it is the fishermen who cross international water boundary for their ignorance or the shepherds straying into borders with their herd and caught and confined to jails.

It is a customary practice from both sides to release each other’s prisoners on special occasions as Independence Day. However, the prisoners of war (pow)are not as lucky. While the release of civilian prisoners is welcome, what about the release of prisoners of war, who are decaying in Pakistan jails for decades without trial?

Both sides need to initiate in this matter rather than making a mockery of each other.

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Via: China View