In a significant move, India has decided to release 39 Pakistani prisoners languishing in its prisons as a goodwill gesture. Out of these prisoners, 21  have completed their prison term and 18 are fishermen.

Islamabad had recently released an Indian soldier, Babulal Chavan and expected India to repatriate 33 Pakistanis whose sentences were over. An official source said that prisoners have been identified and with Pakistan confirming their nationality, they will be sent back to their countries on March 1.

India had earlier made it clear to Pakistan that it will not consider a full-fledged diplomatic dialogue with it unless they show demonstrable action against their terror groups that target India. With the house arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, the Centre believes this might be the right time to resume the process of communication.

With the retirement of Pakistani army chief, Raheel Sharif, the Nawaz Sharif government has become more open with India. The Indian government also acknowledged and reciprocated this thaw in relation by inviting Pakistan for a South Asia Speakers' Summit in Indore last week and also seeking to promote people-to-people contact by ensuring and sponsoring Indian participation in the Karachi Literature Festival.

In fact, after the retirement of Raheel, Nawaz Sharif too had released over 200 Indian fishermen on his birthday on December 25 last year. Then he released Chavan, an Indian soldier who had "inadvertently" crossed over into Pakistan territory.

The release of prisoners and fishermen is an important move as that's what Pakistan was looking for to resume the peace process.