Indian families search for relatives in Pakistani jails

LAHORE: In an effort to trace family members missing since the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, about a dozen Indians, including both men and women, scanned records and visited cells at a Pakistani jail on Saturday , stated officials

Indian families have been requesting Pakistan's cooperation and assistance in locating their relatives, mainly Indian soldiers and airmen who disappeared while fighting near the border.

The families suspect Pakistan is still holding 54 Indian soldiers. Pakistan has countered that it is has no prisoners of war and welcomed families who wanted to make checks.
 
Fourteen men and women began their search by visiting Lahore's high security central jail.
A jail official, confirmed the arrival of the Indian families and promised cooperation.
 
One of women amongst the group, who was seeking her husband, expressed her anguish and torment about not knowing if her husband is alive or dead. But she hoped that she would find her husband here.  Others expressed their gratitude towards Pakistan for making this trip possible.
 
An Indian High Commission official said that the families would visit 10 Pakistani prisons.
Indian Defense Minister A.K. Anthony has assured the families that his government will not abandon efforts to discover the fates of the missing soldiers.