From correspondents in Punjab, India, 11:30 PM IST

The bodies of two Pakistani nationals, who died in Indian jails, were Friday handed over by the Indian authorities to their Pakistani counterparts at the Attari-Wagah border near here.

The bodies handed over were those of Abdul Haleen, 30, and Rashida Begum, 65.

Abdul died in a hospital in Jodhpur town of Rajasthan after falling ill in the Jodhpur jail. He was serving his sentence for illegal entry into India a few years back.

Rashida was arrested by the narcotics department officials at Attari May 2006 when she was trying to smuggle drugs on the Samjhauta Express - the peace train between both countries.

She died here May 22 after a heart attack while being taken for a court hearing.

Her two daughters, who were also arrested with her with the contraband, are still lodged in Amritsar jail and face a drugs trial.

In recent months, India has handed over to Pakistan bodies of four Pakistani nationals who died in Indian prisons.

Pakistan in March this year released as a goodwill gesture Indian prisoner Kashmir Singh, who was on a death row there and was languishing in Pakistani jails for 35 years.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)