India and Pakistan exchange nuclear lists

India and Pakistan exchange nuclear lists

Published: Less than 30 min ago

full screen A Pakistani nuclear-armed robot is displayed during a military parade in Islamabad, March 2022. Photo: Anjum Naveed/AP/TT

South Asian arch-rivals India and Pakistan on Sunday upheld a New Year’s tradition dating back to 1991.

Then the countries exchanged lists of nuclear power plants for the first time.

The handover of the lists follows an agreement between the two countries that the nuclear facilities may not be attacked in the event of armed conflict.

The lists are always submitted at the same time. Pakistan’s top diplomat in Delhi receives the information while India’s counterpart does the same in Islamabad.

Since 2008, the countries also exchange lists of which of the neighboring citizens they imprisoned.

Currently, 705 Indians are detained in Pakistan, including 654 fishermen who illegally crossed the sea border in search of better catches. India holds 434 Pakistanis of which 95 are fishermen.

The states of India and Pakistan were both born in 1947 when British India was divided into two. The separation was bloody – up to two million people were killed in ethnic violence between Hindus and Muslims – and gave birth to animosity that still thrives.

The nuclear powers have fought three wars since independence and both claim the border region of Kashmir.

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