India and Pakistan Exchange Nuclear Installations Lists on January 1

Annual Exchange Under a Long-Standing Agreement

Continuing a decades-old confidence-building mechanism, India and Pakistan exchanged lists of their nuclear installations on January 1, 2026. The exchange was carried out in accordance with a bilateral agreement that prohibits attacks on each other’s nuclear facilities. The move assumes importance as it took place despite strained bilateral relations following military hostilities between the two countries in May 2025.

Origin of the Nuclear Installations Pact

The exchange was conducted under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, signed on December 31, 1988. The agreement came into force on January 27, 1991, and obligates both sides to share details of nuclear installations and facilities every year on the first day of January. The objective is to reduce the risk of accidental or deliberate attacks on sensitive nuclear infrastructure.

Diplomatic Exchange Through Official Channels

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Islamabad handed over its list to a representative of the Indian High Commission through diplomatic channels. India simultaneously shared its corresponding list with Pakistani officials in New Delhi. This annual practice has been followed consistently for more than three decades, even during periods of heightened political or military tension.

Exchange of Prisoners’ Lists

Alongside the nuclear lists, both countries also exchanged lists of prisoners under the Consular Access Agreement signed on May 21, 2008. Pakistan shared details of 257 Indian prisoners, including fishermen and civilian detainees. India, in turn, provided a list of Pakistani prisoners held in Indian custody. Such exchanges are conducted twice annually, in January and July.

Significance Amidst Diplomatic Strain

The continuation of these institutionalised mechanisms highlights the resilience of formal confidence-building measures between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Despite frozen dialogue on most fronts, adherence to these agreements helps maintain a minimum level of transparency and risk reduction.

Important Facts for Exams

• India–Pakistan nuclear installations agreement was signed in 1988

• The pact came into force in January 1991

• Lists are exchanged annually on January 1

• Prisoners’ lists are exchanged twice a year