India returns 67 prisoners to Pakistan

​​​​​​​By Anadolu staff

New Delhi said Tuesday it repatriated 67 Pakistan nationals.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry said 48 Pakistani fishermen and 19 Pakistani civilian prisoners had completed their sentences and were repatriated via the Attari-Wagah border crossing in Punjab state.

“The government of India attaches high priority to the issue of Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners in Pakistan’s custody,” it said, adding it urged Islamabad to "expedite release and repatriation of all Indian prisoners, including fishermen who remain in Pakistan’s custody.”

It comes as relations between the two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbors deteriorated earlier this year when they engaged in four days of hostilities in May, which ended with a US-brokered ceasefire.​​​​​​​