ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Sunday exchanged lists of nuclear installations and facilities and details of prisoners in each other’s custody.

According to a statement issued by Foreign Office, an agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India was signed on December 31, 1988 and ratified on January 27, 1991.

The Agreement, inter alia, provides that both countries shall inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities, falling within its definition, on 1st January of each calendar year, the statement said.

It added that pursuant to the agreement, the list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

Simultaneously, the Indian Minis­try of External Affairs also handed over the list of India’s nuclear installations and facilities to a representative of the Pakistan High Com­mission in New Delhi. The practice of exchanging the lists has been continuing since 1st January 1992.

Prisoners’ list

Meanwhile, both countries exchanged, through diplomatic channels, the lists of prisoners in each other’s custody.

Pakistan shared with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad a list of 705 Indian prisoners, including 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen. Also, the Indian government shared with the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi a list of 434 Pakistani prisoners in India, including 339 civilian prisoners and 95 fishermen.

According to Foreign Office, simultaneous exchange of lists took place in pursuance of the Consular Access Agreement of 2008. Under the agreement, both countries are required to exchange the lists of prisoners in each other’s custody on January 1, and July 1, every year.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has requested for early release and repatriation of its 51 civilian prisoners and 94 fishermen, who have served out their respective sentence and their national status was confirmed. Furthermore, the statement added, a request for grant of consular access to ‘missing’ defence personnel of 1965 and 1971 wars, and special consular access to 56 civil prisoners has also been made.

Published in Dawn, january 2th, 2023