India frees prisoners as summit 'goodwill gesture'

Summit fever is building up in the Indian capital ahead of the landmark meeting between the two leaders

NEW DELHI, India -- India says it is releasing more than 400 Pakistani prisoners from its jails as a goodwill gesture 10 days ahead of the India-Pakistan summit meeting in New Delhi.

"This reflects our positive approach towards Pakistan," an Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokeswoman told reporters.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf will hold a series of face-to-face talks in the Indian capital from July 14-16, with the disputed territory of Kashmir expected to top the summit agenda.

Indian spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said those freed would include 229 civilians held for violating Indian visa laws and some 200 Pakistani fishermen who strayed into Indian waters.

She said Vajpayee had ordered that from now on all fishermen caught accidentally transgressing into Indian waters should be turned back rather than arrested.

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The detention of fishermen on both sides has long been a source of tension between the two countries.

Indian cyclist freed

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Earlier Wednesday, Pakistan announced that it was freeing an Indian round-the-world cyclist, jailed for entering the country from Afghanistan without a visa.

Vikas Singh, who was on a world bicycle tour to promote the cause of peace was expected to be deported back to India later in the day.

As well as the releases Rao added that a number of cultural exchanges would also be initiated as a means of building confidence ahead of the summit.

She said India would begin offering scholarships for Pakistani students and invite Pakistani poets, writers and performers to visit the country.

Other measures announced include the reduction or elimination of tariffs on 50 lines of Pakistani exports to India.

The upcoming summit is the first in more than two years between the nuclear-capable rivals, which have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947.