INDIA and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged lists of their nuclear installations that cannot be attacked during hostilities, continuing an annual practice that began in 1992.
The exchange took place despite relations between India and Pakistan remaining under deep freeze following the May 7–10 military conflict. The lists were exchanged simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad.
The two sides also exchanged lists of prisoners in each other’s custody. New Delhi urged Islamabad to expedite the release of 167 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners who have completed their jail terms, and sought immediate consular access to 35 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan’s custody.
The exchange of the list of nuclear installations took place under the provisions of an agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels, simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities, covered under the agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities between India and Pakistan,” the MEA said.
The agreement was signed on December 31, 1988, and came into force on January 27, 1991. The pact mandates that the two countries inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on the first of January every year.
“This is the 35th consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992,” the MEA said in a brief statement.
Ties between the two countries hit rock bottom after India carried out Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Though the military confrontation ended on May 10, relations have remained under deep freeze.
India and Pakistan exchange lists of prisoners and fishermen twice a year, on January 1 and July 1, under the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access.
India has shared names and details of 391 civilian prisoners and 33 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or believed to be Pakistani. Pakistan has shared details of 58 civilian prisoners and 199 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or believed to be Indian, according to the MEA.
“The government of India has called for early release and repatriation of civil prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody,” it said.
“Pakistan has also been urged to expedite the release and repatriation of 167 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners, who have completed their sentence.”
New Delhi has asked Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen pending their release and repatriation.
“As a result of the sustained efforts by the government of India, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014,” the MEA said.
“This includes 500 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date,” it added.
