ISLAMABAD, Jan 1 (KUNA) -- Pakistan and India on Thursday exchanged the lists of their respective nuclear installations and prisoners, continuing the annual practice under an agreement signed between the two nations in 1988.
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, speaking at a weekly media briefing here in Islamabad on Thursday, said that a list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to the representative of the Indian High Commission in the Foreign Office today.
He further said, "I understand that the Indian government is also sharing the list of Indian nuclear installations with our High Commission in New Delhi today." The FO spokesperson noted that the 1988 "agreement provides that both countries shall inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities." He confirmed that the two countries had exchanged a list of prisoners as well.
"The Indian government is also sharing the list of Pakistani prisoners in their custody with the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi," he added.
In response to a query regarding India's approval of hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir region, the spokesperson said that under the Indus Water Treaty, India could not misuse its restricted allowance for unilaterally building any hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.
Answering a question about stranded Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan due to border closure, the spokesperson said that 15 students and another 291 individuals had safely returned to Pakistan.
"We are in contact with the Afghan authorities," he added.
"You may note that a total of 1,199 Pakistanis approached our embassy in Kabul seeking assistance for their return; these include 549 students and 402 [other] individuals," concluded. (end) sbk.gta