There was excitement in the air with hundreds of families gathering at Wagah, an India-Pakistan border checkpost early Monday as the process for the biggest ever exchange of prisoners between the two countries got under way, according to Indo-Asian News Service.

Over 585 prisoners from both sides will be exchanged through the day.

This border checkpost in the Indian Punjab was buzzing with activity with hundreds anxious to see their loved ones come back to India after languishing in Pakistan prisons for years.

This is the biggest such exercise after 1974 when war prisoners were exchanged between the two countries.

Pakistan is scheduled to release 435 Indian prisoners, including 371 fishermen (mostly from Gujarat) and 64 other civilians. India is releasing 150 Pakistani prisoners.

The first batch of prisoners would cross into homeland later Monday after paper formalities were completed by the Pakistani and Indian sides respectively. The forms for this purpose run into 1, 000 pages.

Source: Xinhua