Pakistan, India exchange lists of nuclear

Pakistan and India Saturday exchanged the lists of their nuclear installations under an agreement that prohibits the two countries attacking each other's nuclear installations, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told a private television GEO.

The exchange of lists, covered under the agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities between Pakistan and India, carried out through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, Khan said.

Khan disclosed that a diplomat of the Indian High Commission toPakistan was called to the Foreign Office and the list of Pakistan's nuclear installations was handed over to him.

In a similar practice, the list of India's nuclear installations was handed over to an official of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, Khan said.

According to the agreement on the exchange, which was signed on Dec. 31, 1988 and enforced on Jan. 27, 1991, India and Pakistan have to inform each other on Jan. 1 every year of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered by the agreement.

The first such exchange of lists took place on Jan. 1, 1992. The agreement came under severe test two years ago when the two countries were poised for a military showdown following the attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001.

Despite the rising tensions, the two countries complied with the agreement and exchanged the lists which usually include civilian nuclear power plants and give the exact locations.

Source: Xinhua