India, Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear installations

India and Pakistan have been exchanging details about their nuclear facilities on the first day of the year for over 19 years. This is seen as an effective confidence building measure, as well as a way to prevent attacks on these facilities.

PROTECTED FACILITY: Research Reactor CIRUS, at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Trombay. India and Pakistan shared details of their nuclear installations, to prevent any kind of attack on these facilities. File photo

India and Pakistan on Friday exchanged the lists of their nuclear installations and facilities under an agreement that prohibits the two countries from attacking them.

The lists were exchanged simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, according to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The lists cover nuclear installations coming under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities.

The agreement, which was inked on December 31, 1988 and came into effect on January 27, 1991, mandates the two nations to inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities on January 1 every year.

This is the 19th exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992.