India-Pakistan Nuclear Information Exchange

India-Pakistan Nuclear Information Exchange

News: India and Pakistan recently exchanged lists of their nuclear installations and facilities as a part of Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between the two countries.

Key Features:
• The India-Pakistan Nuclear Information Exchange is a pact signed between India and Pakistan in 1988.
• The agreement is officially known as the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities.
• It prohibits both sides from attacking each other’s atomic facilities.
• The agreement mandates the two countries to inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on the first of January of every calendar year.
• The term ‘nuclear installation or facility’ includes nuclear power and research reactors, fuel fabrication, uranium enrichment, isotopes separation, and reprocessing facilities as well as any other installations with fresh or irradiated nuclear fuel and materials in any form and establishments storing significant quantities of radioactive materials.
• The agreement was signed on December 31, 1988, by the then Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan and Rajiv Gandhi of India and entered into force on January 27, 1991.
• The exchange of the list is done simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad.
• This exchange has been taking place consecutively since January 1, 1992.