New Delhi. According to available information, 74 Missing Defence Personnel are believed to be in Pakistani jails, including 54 since 1971.

This information was given by Shri S. M. Krishna, Union Minister of External Affairs in reply to a question by Shri Naveen Jindal in Lok Sabha today. He said that 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. 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. The delegation could not conclusively confirm the physical presence of the 74 Missing Defence Personnel. Pursuant to the visit of the delegation of the relatives of Missing Defence Personnel, a Tri-Service Committee for monitoring matters on the subject has been formed in the Ministry of Defence. Under the Simla Agreement, the Government is committed to resolving all issues with Pakistan through peaceful negotiations and bilateral dialogue.