India and Pakistan have completed their annual exchange of lists detailing each other’s nuclear installations and facilities, as well as prisoners in custody. In the exchange, New Delhi requested Islamabad to grant consular access to 18 Indian nationals currently held in Pakistani prisons.
Additionally, India sought confirmation regarding the identities of 76 individuals believed to be of Pakistani origin who are incarcerated in Indian jails.
The lists were exchanged simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad. The exchange of nuclear facility lists is governed by an agreement aimed at prohibiting attacks on nuclear installations, signed in 1988 and implemented in 1991. According to this agreement, both countries are required to inform each other of their nuclear facilities on January 1 each year.
This marks the 34th consecutive exchange of such lists, the first having taken place on January 1, 1992.
In addition, both nations exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody. These exchanges occur twice annually, as stipulated by the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, with lists being shared on January 1 and July 1.
India has urged Pakistan to promptly provide consular access to the 18 civilian prisoners and fishermen believed to be Indian, as they have yet to receive such access. India also requested that Pakistan expedite the nationality verification process for 76 individuals thought to be Pakistani, whose repatriation is delayed due to pending nationality confirmation.
India provided a list of 381 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen, while Pakistan shared details of 49 Indian civilian prisoners and 217 Indian fishermen in its custody.
The Indian government has called for the swift release and repatriation of these prisoners and fishermen, along with their boats. It also highlighted the issue of missing Indian defense personnel held in Pakistan.
In the last decade, Pakistan has repatriated 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners, including 478 fishermen and 13 prisoners since 2023.
