New Delhi, January 2: India and Pakistan on Friday exchanged their lists of nuclear installations and facilities that cannot be attacked in the event of hostilities, maintaining a tradition dating back 24 years.
The lists were exchanged simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. The nuclear installations and facilities are covered by the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations that was signed on December 31, 1988, the external affairs ministry said.
The pact had entered into force on January 27, 1991 and the two sides have to inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on January 1 every year.
This was the twenty-fifth consecutive exchange of such lists since January 1992.
India and Pakistan also exchanged lists of their nationals being held in jails of the other country. These lists included civilian prisoners and fishermen and the exchange was made under the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access that was signed in May 2008.
Under this pact, the two sides exchange comprehensive lists of prisoners on January 1 and July 1 every year. The process has helped speed up the identification and release of hundreds prisoners, a majority of them fishermen.
Details of prisoners currently being held in jails in both countries were not immediately available.
