Both sides share details of N sites, prisoners; Islamabad raises strong concerns about violations of the IWT
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and India on Thursday continued key confidence-building measures by exchanging lists of their respective nuclear installations and prisoners, even as broader bilateral ties remain strained and concerns over New Delhi’s actions over shared water resources remain.
According to the State Department, the two countries exchanged lists of nuclear installations and facilities on January 1 in accordance with the 1988 Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks on Nuclear Installations and Facilities.
Pakistan formally handed over its list to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, while India shared its own list with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
The annual exchange, a rare surviving mechanism of engagement between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, took place despite lingering tensions after the four-day conflict earlier this year and the absence of a structured dialogue process.
On the same day, Pakistan and India also shared lists of detainees under the Consular Access Agreement of 2008. Pakistan provided details of 257 Indian detainees in its custody, including 58 civilians and 199 fishermen. India was expected to retaliate by sharing a list of Pakistani prisoners held in Indian jails.
The FO said the exchange was aimed at facilitating consular access and early repatriation of prisoners, especially those who have completed their sentences.
The continuation of these routine diplomatic exchanges coincided with a rare public interaction between senior representatives of the two countries in Dhaka earlier on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar were briefly seen shaking hands on the sidelines of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s state funeral.
The interaction, which was widely circulated on social media and regional media, marked the first such face-to-face contact between senior officials since the recent hostilities.
However, the FO sought to downplay any political significance attached to the meeting, with the spokesman saying he would not go beyond the speaker’s own public explanation of the meeting.
While limited diplomatic protocols have continued, Islamabad has simultaneously expressed strong concern over India’s alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), particularly reports of New Delhi approving the Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric project on the Chenab River in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to a question during the weekly press briefing, FO spokesman Tahir Andrabi said the reports raised “serious concerns” as India had not shared prior information about the project as required under the 1960 treaty.
He said Pakistan’s Indus Waters Commissioner had formally sought clarification from his Indian counterpart regarding the project’s design, scope and potential impact on downstream water flows.
The spokesman reiterated that India could not unilaterally exercise its limited permissions under the treaty and stressed that any project on the western rivers was subject to strict design, operation and information sharing requirements.
He added that the Indus Waters Treaty remained a binding international agreement, noting that recent decisions of the arbitral tribunal had confirmed its validity.
The FO briefing also covered a wide range of regional and international developments. Expressing deep concern over the resurgence of violence in Yemen, Pakistan reaffirmed its support for the country’s unity and territorial integrity and opposed unilateral actions that could further destabilize the region.
Islamabad also reiterated its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and supported regional efforts aimed at de-escalation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a telephone conversation during which they discussed regional developments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. The Saudi Crown Prince expressed his wish to pay an official visit to Pakistan in the coming year.
The spokesman also highlighted Pakistan’s strong condemnation of any attempt to undermine Somalia’s sovereignty, rejecting in particular Israel’s reported recognition of the so-called Somaliland region. Pakistan joined several Muslim countries in issuing a joint statement condemning the move as a violation of international law and the UN Charter.
Regarding Afghanistan, the spokesman said that Pakistan’s diplomatic missions were coordinating the safe return of Pakistani nationals after border closures, adding that Islamabad continued to urge Kabul to ensure that Afghan soil was not used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
