India, Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear installations, prisoners

India and Pakistan on Friday exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in custody and their nuclear installations and facilities.

The list of civilian prisoners and fishermen was exchanged through diplomatic channels keeping with the provisions of the 2008 Agreement, Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Statement said.

Under the bilateral arrangement, India handed over lists of 263 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 77 fishermen in India’s custody to Pakistan while Pakistan has shared lists of 49 civilian prisoners and 270 fishermen in its custody.

Both the countries called their respective counterparts for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners and fishermen along with their boats.

India and Pakistan also exchanged list of nuclear installations and facilities under the bilateral arrangement that prohibits the two countries from attacking each other’s nuclear installations and facilities.

The exchange was also made through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the MEA said in a separate statement.

“The Agreement, which was signed on December 31, 1988 and entered into force on January 27, 1991 provides, inter alia, that India and Pakistan inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on the first of January of every calendar year,” it added.

This is the 30th consecutive exchange of such a list between the two countries as the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992. The exchange of list of nuclear installations and facilities was made amid frosty ties between the two countries over the Kashmir issue as well as cross-border terrorism.