Pakistan, India exchange lists of nuclear installations

Pakistan and India on Saturday honoured their decades-old commitment and exchanged lists of nuclear installations despite lingering tensions that heightened in the aftermath of Mumbai attacks. The exchange of lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities took place in accordance with the 'Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities'.
Known as one of the best Confidence Building Measures between the two sides, the agreement between the two countries was inked on December 31, 1988. It had continued to remain effective irrespective of their bilateral relations. In accordance with the agreement, two countries have to inform each other on January 1 every year about their nuclear installations and facilities. The first exchange of the lists took place in 1992.
Under the agreement, both the parties to "refrain from undertaking, encouraging or participating in, directly or indirectly, any action aimed at causing destruction of, or damage to, any nuclear installation or facility in the other country".
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over the list of Pakistan's nuclear installations and facilities to an officer of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the Foreign Office today at 1100 hrs (PST). The Indian side handed over their list to an officer of the Pakistan High Commission at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi at 1130 hrs (IST)," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
Meanwhile, in accordance with the agreement on Consular Access signed between Pakistan and India on May 21, 2008, Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over the list of Indian prisoners in Pakistan to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad today. According to the Agreement both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody on January 1 and July 1 every year.