Sunday, January 1 2006 15:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan and India today (Jan 1, 2005) exchanged lists of nuclear installations under a special agreement, which prohibits Islamabad and New Delhi from attacking each other's nuclear facilities.

"The Governments of Pakistan and India today exchanged lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities in accordance with Article II of the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India of 31 December 1988," a Foreign Office statement said.

Zaheer A Janjua, Director India Desk in Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over the list of Pakistan nuclear installation and facilities to Sibi George, First Secretary, political of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad this morning, it said.

The Indian side handed over their list to Muhammad Khalid Jamali, First Secretary of the Pakistan High Commission at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi around the same time. The statement did not give any details of which installations and facilities are mentioned in the lists.

Under the accord, both the countries annually exchange fresh lists, containing locations of nuclear installations, on January 1st of every year.

Even at the height of tension three years ago, both the countries exchanged information on the nuclear installations and demonstrated their commitment against attacks on such facilities.

According to the agreement signed on December 31, 1988 and enforced on January 27, 1991, India and Pakistan have to inform each other on January 1 every year of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered by the agreement.

The first such exchange of lists took place on January 1, 1992.

The list usually includes civilian nuclear power plants and gives the exact location of each.

The exchange of list comes some two weeks before the two sides will hold third round of their peace talks in New Delhi. Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan will lead Pakistani side in the two-day talks beginning January 17.