- India
- Jan 01
India, Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear installations and prisoners
• India and Pakistan exchanged a list of their nuclear installations under a bilateral pact that prohibits the two sides from attacking each other’s atomic facilities, in continuing an over-three-decade practice.
• Through diplomatic channels, both sides exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad on January 1.
• The agreement was signed on December 31, 1988 and entered into force on January 27, 1991.
• Under the agreement, India and Pakistan inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on January 1 every year.
• This is the 35th consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries, the first one having taken place on 1 January 1992.
Exchange of lists of prisoners
• Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and on July 1.
• India has shared lists with details of 391 civil prisoners and 33 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani.
• Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists with details of 58 civil prisoners and 199 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or believed-to-be-Indian.
• The Indian government has called for early release and repatriation of civil prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan's custody.
• Pakistan has also been urged to expedite the release and repatriation of 167 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners, who have completed their sentence.
• In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 35 civil prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan's custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far.
• As many as 2,661 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014.
Agreement between India and Pakistan on Consular Access
With the objective of humane treatment of nationals of either country arrested, detained or imprisoned in the other country, the governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to reciprocal consular facilities.
Key points of the agreement:
• Both governments shall maintain a comprehensive list of the nationals of the other country under its arrest, detention or imprisonment. The lists shall be exchanged on January 1 and July 1 each year.
• Immediate notification of any arrest, detention or imprisonment of any person of the other country shall be provided to the respective High Commission.
• Each government undertakes to expeditiously inform the other of the sentences awarded to the convicted nationals of the other country.
• Each government shall provide consular access within three months to nationals of one country, under arrest, detention or imprisonment in the other country.
• Both governments agree to release and repatriate persons within one month of confirmation of their national status and completion of sentences.
• In case of arrest, detention or sentence made on political or security grounds, each side may examine the case on its merits.
• In special cases, which call for or require compassionate and humanitarian considerations, each side may exercise its discretion subject to its laws and regulations to allow early release and repatriation of persons.