India and Pakistan has exchanged a list of their nuclear installations that cannot be attacked in case of an escalation in hostilities, as part of an annual ritual that has been in practice between the two neighbours for more than three decades.

Non-Nuclear Aggression Agreement

• The Non-nuclear aggression agreement is a bilateral and nuclear weapons control treaty between India and Pakistan, on the reduction (or limitation) of nuclear arms.
• Both pledged not to attack or assist foreign powers to attack on each others nuclear installations and facilities.
• The treaty was drafted in 1988, and signed by the PM Rajiv Gandhi and his counterpart Benazir Bhutto on 21 December 1988; it entered into force on January 1991.
• The treaty barred its signatories to carry out a surprise attack (or to assist foreign power to attack) on each other’s nuclear installations and facilities.
• Starting in January 1992, India and Pakistan have annually exchanged lists of their respective military and civilian nuclear-related facilities.

Need for the treaty

• In 1986-87, the massive exercise, ‘Brasstacks’ was carried out by the Indian Army, raising the fears of an Indian attack on Pakistan’s nuclear facilities.
• Since then, the Foreign ministries of both countries had been negotiating to reach an understanding towards the control of nuclear weapons.

Significance of the agreement

• The treaty barred its signatories to carry out a surprise attack (or to assist foreign power to attack) on each other’s nuclear installations and facilities.
• The treaty provides a confidence-building security measure environment.

Other: Sharing of Prisoners information

• Both nations do simultaneously share the list of prisoners in each others’ custody.
• These lists are exchanged under the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access signed in May 2008.
• Under this pact, the two countries should exchange comprehensive lists on January 1 and July 1 every year (i.e. twice a year).

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