LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistan on Wednesday released 17 Indian prisoners as a "goodwill gesture" on the eve of high-profile talks with a top official from New Delhi, officials said.
The prisoners were handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border crossing near the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, a spokesman for the paramilitary rangers, Nadeem Raza, told AFP.
He said that all 17 prisoners, who had completed jail terms in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison, were escorted to Wagah in the morning where they were greeted by Indian border officials.
Hundreds of Indians and Pakistanis are languishing in prisons on both sides of the border on charges of spying or illegal entry.
Prickly relations between South Asia's nuclear-armed neighbours seriously worsened after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. India blamed the carnage on Pakistan-based militants and suspended peace talks.
But after a recent thaw in relations, India and Pakistan's top foreign ministry officials are due to hold talks in Islamabad on Thursday.
