'Pak denies custody of Missing Indian Defence Personnel'

New Delhi, Mar 10: Altogether 74 missing defence personnel, including 54 since 1971, are believed to be in Pakistani jails, though the neighbouring country has constantly denied their presence.

"Government has repeatedly taken up the matter with the Government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels and during high-level contacts for their release. However, Pakistan does not acknowledge the presence of any Missing Defence Personnel in its custody," Minister of External Affairs, SM Krishna, said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

He informed that during the visit of External Affairs Minister to Pakistan in January 2007, Pakistan Government was persuaded to receive a delegation of relatives of Missing Defence Personnel to permit them to visit prisons in Pakistan, where they are believed to be incarcerated.

A delegation of relatives accordingly visited 10 jails in Pakistan from June 1-14, 2007, but it could not conclusively confirm the physical presence of the 74 Missing Defence Personnel, the minister added.

Pursuant to the visit of the delegation of the relatives, a Tri-Service Committee for monitoring matters on the subject has been formed in the Ministry of Defence, Krishna informed. Under the Simla Agreement, the Government is committed to resolving all issues with Pakistan through peaceful negotiations and bilateral dialogue, he reiterated.