Pakistan, India share prisoner, N-site lists

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ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and India on Wednesday continued their decades-long practice of exchanging lists of nuclear installations and prisoners on the first day of the new year.

The exchanges reflect a rare instance of cooperation between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, signed on Dec 31, 1988, which took effect from Jan 27, 1991, both countries have committed to annually share information about their nuclear installations and facilities. The lists were exchanged for the first time on Jan 1, 1992.

According to a Foreign Office statement, the list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Simultaneously, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs provided their list to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

In addition to the nuclear lists, the two countries also exchanged lists of pri­soners held in each other's custody, as per the Consular Access Agreement of 2008.

This agreement requires the sharing of prisoners' lists twice a year, on January 1 and July 1.

"The government of Pakistan handed over a list of 266 Indian prisoners in Pakistan (49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen) to a representative of the High Commission of India in Islamabad," the foreign office spokesperson said in a press statement.

Simultaneously, the government of India shared the list of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails to an officer of Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi.

According to the list, there were a total of 462 Pakistanis in Indian jails (381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen).

The simultaneous exchange of lists took place in pursuance of the Consular Access Agreement of 2008. Under the Agreement, both countries were required to exchange the lists of prisoners in each other's custody on 1st January and 1st July, every year.

"Separately, the Government of India has been urged to release and repatriate all those Pakistanis (52 civilian prisoners and 56 fishermen), who have completed their respective sentence and whose national status stands confirmed," it was further added.

The spokesperson said the government of India had also been urged to ensure safety, security and well-being of all Pakistani or believed-to-be Pakistani prisoners, awaiting their release and repatriation.

Furthermore, a request for grant of consular access to 38 missing defence personnel of 1965 and 1971 wars had been made, it was added.

The exchanges highlight the ongoing complex relationship between the two neighbouring countries, marked by conflicts since their independence in 1947.

Despite tensions, the practice demonstrates a commitment to upholding longstanding agreements and maintaining a measure of diplomatic engagement.