NEW DELHI: In a subcontinental New Year tradition, India and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged the lists of nuclear facilities and prisoners-- two of the seminal issues that plague bilateral relations.
The list of nuclear installations and facilities were exchanged simultaneously by the Ministry of External Affairs here and the Pakistan Foreign Ministry in Islamabad at 11 am, which is 10.30 am Pakistan local time. “India and Pakistan on Thursday 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,” said MEA spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin.
This is the 24th time that both countries have exchanged this list, which implements Article 2 of the 1988 Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities. It, however, entered into force only on January 27, 1991. Besides, the two countries exchanged a list of prisoners under the Consular Access Agreement signed on 2008. These lists are exchanged on a semi-annual basis on Jan 1 and July 1. Pak said that it has handed over a list of 526 Indian prisoners, which include 476 fishermen and 50 others, to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.