India and Pakistan have exchanged a list of nuclear installations that cannot be attacked if hostilities escalate.
Non-Nuclear Aggression Agreement
- The Non-nuclear aggression agreement is a bilateral nuclear weapons control treaty signed by India and Pakistan to reduce (or limit) nuclear weapons.
- Both pledged not to attack or assist foreign powers in attacking the nuclear installations and facilities of the other.
- The treaty was drafted in 1988 and signed on December 21, 1988, by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his counterpart Benazir Bhutto; it entered into force in January 1991.
- The treaty prohibited signatories from carrying out surprise attacks (or assisting foreign powers in carrying out attacks) on each other’s nuclear installations and facilities.
- Since January 1992, India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of their respective military and civilian nuclear-related facilities on an annual basis.
The necessity of the treaty
- The Indian Army conducted the massive exercise ‘Brasstacks’ in 1986-87, raising fears of an Indian attack on Pakistan’s nuclear facilities.
- Since then, the foreign ministries of both countries have been negotiating an agreement on nuclear weapons control.
The importance of the agreement
- The treaty prohibited signatories from carrying out surprise attacks (or assisting foreign powers in carrying out attacks) on each other’s nuclear installations and facilities.
- The treaty creates a security environment that fosters trust.
Other: Sharing of Prisoners’ information
- Both countries share a list of prisoners in each other’s custody at the same time.
- These lists are exchanged in accordance with the terms of the Consular Access Agreement, which was signed in May 2008.
- According to the terms of the agreement, the two countries must exchange comprehensive lists on January 1 and July 1 of each year (i.e. twice a year).
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-pakistan-exchange-list-of-nuclear-installations-prisoners/article38086493.ece