India, Pakistan exchange nuclear data
Iran Press TV
In-Depth Coverage
1/1/2015 4:49:20 PM -- Senior Indian and Pakistani officials have exchanged lists of nuclear installations despite growing tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the two sides exchanged lists of their respective nuclear installations through diplomatic channels simultaneously on Thursday.
The arch-rivals exchange lists of their nuclear sites each year under an agreement barring them from attacking each other's atomic facilities in the event of war. This is the 24th consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries.
The neighbors have also set up a telephone hotline to prevent accidental nuclear conflict.
India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars, two over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir, routinely carry out missile tests but normally notify each other in advance under an agreement.
Both neighbors have refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other treaties that restrict the development or testing of nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Islamabad and New Delhi also exchanged the lists of prisoners under the Consular Access Agreement between the two nations.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over a list of 526 Indian prisoners including 50 civilians and 476 fishermen in Pakistan to the High Commission of India in Islamabad," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said, adding, "A similar list of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails was handed over to High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi."
Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have soured since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
India says Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militants are responsible for the attacks and has demanded Islamabad to take action for what it says is the latest anti-India raid launched from Pakistani soil.
Pakistan has rejected the involvement of its government in the attacks, saying that 'non-state actors' were involved in the incident.
India, Pakistan exchange nuclear data
