India, Pakistan exchange list of nuclear facilities, prisoners

India and Pakistan carried out the annual exchange of a list of nuclear installations and facilities on either side. A list of one country’s prisoners in the other country was also exchanged in which New Delhi asked Islamabad to allow consular access to 18 Indians in Pakistani jails.

Also, a confirmation on the identity of 76 persons, who are believed to be of Pakistani-origin and are languishing in Indian jails, was sought by India.

Both lists were exchanged simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad. The list of nuclear installations and facilities is covered under an agreement on the prohibition of “attack against nuclear installation and facilities between India and Pakistan”.

The agreement was signed on December 31, 1988 and entered into force on January 27, 1991. It mandates 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.

This is the 34th consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992.

The two countries, through diplomatic channels, also exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody. Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and on July 1.

Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 18 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan’s custody who are believed to be Indian and have not been provided consular access so far.

India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 76 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India’s custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.

In all, India has shared names of 381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed to be Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared names of 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed to be Indian.

The Government of India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners and fishermen along with their boats. It also mentions the missing Indian defence personnel in Pakistan’s custody.

In the past 10 years, 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan. This includes 478 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.

‘Provide consular access’

• Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 18 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan’s custody who are believed to be Indian and have not been provided consular access so far.
• India has also urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 76 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India’s custody, whose repatriation is pending.