Kumar Bahukhandi
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal – Photo: ANI
India-Pakistan: India and Pakistan on Wednesday exchanged lists of their nuclear installations, civilian prisoners, and fishermen. This exchange has been done under an agreement between the two countries.
India and Pakistan on Wednesday exchanged the list of their nuclear installations. This exchange has been done under an agreement between the two countries. This agreement prevents both the countries from attacking each other’s nuclear installations and is part of a tradition that has been going on for three decades.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that this exchange was done under the agreement to prevent attack on nuclear installations and facilities. This list was shared simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. This list is exchanged between India and Pakistan on January 1 every year and both the countries have to inform each other that their nuclear installations and facilities are under the purview of this agreement.
What is the history of the agreement
This agreement was signed by both the countries on 31 December 1988. It was implemented on 27 January 1991. The purpose of this agreement is to ensure the security of nuclear installations between the two countries, so that the possibility of nuclear war or attack can be reduced. This is the 34th time that the list has been exchanged between India and Pakistan. This exchange has been going on continuously since January 1, 1992.
Exchange of list amid tense relations
The relations between the two countries have been tense in recent years due to issues like the dispute over Kashmir and cross-border terrorism. Despite this, this list was exchanged, which shows the commitment of both countries towards agreement and security.
Both countries shared the list of civilian prisoners
Apart from this, India and Pakistan also exchanged the list of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody today. The Ministry of External Affairs said that this list was shared through diplomatic channels. This exchange has been done under the Consular Access Agreement of 2008, according to which both countries have to give each other the list of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody on January 1 and July 1 every year.
India has given a list of 381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen who are either Pakistanis or suspected to be Pakistanis. Pakistan has shared a list of 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen who are either Indians or suspected to be Indians.
Pakistan should release prisoners, fishermen soon: Foreign Ministry
The Foreign Ministry asked Pakistan to release these civilian prisoners, fishermen and missing Indian soldiers as soon as possible and send them to India. India also said that 183 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners who have completed their sentence should be released soon.
Apart from this, India has also asked Pakistan to immediately provide consular access to the 18 Indian citizens who are in Pakistani jails and who have not been provided consular access so far. The ministry also asked Pakistan to ensure the safety of all Indian and suspected Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen until they are repatriated to India.
