Pakistan and India on Wednesday exchanged the lists of each other's nuclear installations and facilities, besides the lists of prisoners in each other's custody as part of bilateral arrangements.
According to Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui, the list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday at 1030 hrs (PST) in accordance with Article-II of the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India, signed on 31st December 1988.
She said that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi handed over the list of Indian Nuclear installations and facilities to a representative of the Pakistan High Commission at 1100 hrs (IST).
The Agreement contains the provision that both countries inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities on 1st January every year. This has been done consecutively since 1st January 1992, she added.
Meanwhile, she said that the government of Pakistan handed over a list of 282 Indian prisoners - 55 civil and 227 fishermen - in Pakistan to the High Commission of India in Islamabad.
This step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody twice a year, on 1st January and 1st July.
The spokesperson said that the Indian government will also share the list of Pakistani prisoners with Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Later in the day, the Indian External Affairs Ministry also issued a press release, saying that India handed over list of 267 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 99 fishermen to Pakistan who are in India's custody. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 55 civilian prisoners and 227 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or 'believed-to-be Indians'.
"The [Indian] government has called for early release and repatriation of Indian civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats from Pakistan's custody," it stated, adding that in this context Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 4 Indian civilian prisoners and 126 Indian fishermen to India whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan.
In addition, it added that Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 14 believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and 100 Indian fishermen who are in Pakistan's custody.
"The government has also sought Pakistan to expedite the grant of visas to the members of the medical experts team and facilitate their visit to Pakistan to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be Indian prisoners of unsound mind, lodged in different jails of Pakistan; to organize early visit of the Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan; and to organize early visit of the 4-member team to Karachi in connection with release and repatriation of 22 Indian fishing boats", the Indian External Affairs Ministry said.
"India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's country. In this context, India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 82 Pakistan prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation by Pakistan, it added.
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