India, Pak exchange list of nuclear installations

New Delhi [India]: India and Pakistan today exchanged the list of their nuclear installations and facilities covered under the agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations between the two sides.

The list was exchanged through the diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad.

The agreement, which was signed on December 31, 1988, and entered into force on January 27, 1991, provides that the two countries inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on the first of January of every calendar year.

This is the twenty sixth consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992.

The two sides also exchanged the lists of nationals (including civil prisoners and fishermen) of each country lodged in the jails of the other country consistent with the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access between India and Pakistan.

The agreement, which was signed on May 21, 2008, provides that a comprehensive list of nationals of each country lodged in other country’s jails has to be exchanged twice each year on January 1 and July 1.

“India remains committed to addressing with Pakistan on priority the humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

“In this context, we await from Pakistan confirmation of nationality of those in India’s custody who are otherwise eligible for release and repatriation. We also await consular access to those Indian nationals in Pakistan’s custody for whom it has so far not been provided including Hamid Nehal Ansari and Kulbhushan Jadhav,” the statement added. (ANI)