India believes there are 54 Indian POWs captured by Pakistan in 1971 lodged in Pakistani jails

It has been 51 years since India won the 1971 war against Pakistan, and Bangladesh was born. Rajya Sabha question 4174, dated May 4, 2000 On May 4, 2000, while replying to Abani Roy’s unstarred question 4174, then-Minister of State for External Affairs Ajit Kumar Panja informed the house that as per the information available with the Indian Government, there were 54 Indian POWs in Pakistani jails, but Pakistan denied having POWs. The matter was raised during a Summit meeting with President Pervez Musharraf on July 15, 2001, at Agra, where the Prime Minister urged him to take urgent and purposeful action “for the earliest release and repatriation of these POWs to end the agony of the families of these soldiers.” Rajya Sabha question 646, dated March 6, 2002 On March 6, 2002, while replying to S Agniraj’s starred question 646, then-Minister of External Affairs George Fernandes said there were believed to be 54 POWs in Pakistani Jails; however, Pakistan continued to deny the same. During the Agra Summit on July 15, 2001, the Prime Minister also urged the Pakistani President to take urgent and purposeful action towards releasing these POWs.” Rajya Sabha question 3246, dated April 24, 2002 On April 24, 2002, While replying to Nana Deshmukh’s unstarred question 3246, then-Minister of Defence George Fernandes said that the GoI was taking all possible steps to trace the POWs from the 1971 war in Pakistani jails, but the Government of Pakistan continued to deny having any POWs. He further added, “During EAM’s visit to Pakistan, India and Pakistan agreed to establish a committee on prisoners comprising retired judges of the superior judiciary to visit jails in the two countries and propose steps to ensure humane treatment and expedite the release of prisoners who have completed their prison terms.” Rajya Sabha question 3086, dated May 3, 2007 On May 3, 2007, while replying to NR Govindarajar’s unstarred question 3086, then-Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee informed that there was information of 74 Indian POWs in Pakistani jails since 1971-72, but Pakistan denied it.