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Pakistan, India exchange list of N-installations: official

IRNA

Islamabad, Jan 1, IRNA - Amid improvement in relations, Pakistan 
and India on Thursday exchanged lists of nuclear installations under 
a special agreement signed in 1988 which prohibited them from 
attacking each other`s nuclear facilities, a Foreign Office official 
said. 
The official did not give any further details. 
The lists include the exact location of their respective nuclear 
installations. This is the 13th consecutive year the two countries 
have exchanged the lists through diplomatic channels simultaneously 
in New Delhi and Islamabad. 
The Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear 
Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan was signed on 
December 31, 1988 and entered into force on January 27, 1991. 
Under the agreement, the two countries have to inform each 
other on Jan. 1 every year about their nuclear installations and 
facilities. The first exchange of lists took place in 1992. 
The agreement came under severe test two years ago when India 
and Pakistan were poised for a military show down following an 
attack on the Parliament in December 2001. 
But despite the rising tensions the two countries complied with 
the agreement and exchanged the lists. 
In recent months, tensions between the two nuclear countries 
have been reduced in the wake of confidence-building measures they 
announced. 
Islamabad`s announcement of a unilateral cease-fire along the 
Line of Control (LoC), which divides both parts of Kashmir, between 
Pakistan and India has eased out the things dramatically. 
India also reciprocated and since November 26, both countries 
are observing cease-fire along LoC and Siachen Glacier warfront in 
the Himalayas` mountains. 
Islamabad and New Delhi have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, 
a disputed piece of land since their independence in August 1947. 
Both are expected to open a new chapter of their relations after 
the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) 
summit on January 4-6. 
Saarc comprises Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, 
Bhutan and Maldives. 
The exchange of lists came days before Indian Prime Minister Atal 
Bihari Vajpayee is to participate in the SAARC summit in the Pakistani
capital, which begins on January 4. 
Peace between Islamabad and New Delhi could trigger economic 
activity in the region under Saarc, till now eclipsed by their 
tension. 
India and Pakistan last carried out nuclear tests in 1998. 
TK-MHA/TSH/213 
End