Seventy-four missing defence personnel, including 54 prisoners of wars, are believed to be in Pakistani jails for the last 41 years, the government said on Friday.
"According to available information, 74 missing defence personnel including 54 PoWs are believed to be in Pakistan since 1971," Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
She said that government has repeatedly taken up the matter with the government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels and during the high-level contacts for the release of Indian PoWs.
"However, Pakistan does not acknowledge the presence of any Indian PoWs in its custody," Kaur said.
On early repatriation of these prisoners, she said that, "The matter was raised with Pakistan at India-Pakistan Home/ Interior Secretary talks held in Islamabad on May 24-25, 2012 and India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level talks in New Delhi on July 4-5, 2012."
Kaur also informed Parliament that during the visit of the external affairs minister to Pakistan in 2007,
Defence ministry audit questions DRDO functioning
'I have stopped making public appearances in Pakistan'
PIX: Kailash Kher, Hard Kaur at music awards
WATCH LIVE! Northeast issue rocks Lok Sabha!
Over 100 Hindu pilgrims cross into India from Pakistan