Despite the continuing standoff, India and Pakistan Wednesday exchanged lists of nuclear installations under a special agreement signed in 1988 which prohibited them from attacking each other's nuclear facilities.
This is the 12th 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 it, the two countries have to inform each other on Jan. 1every year about their nuclear installations and facilities. The first exchange of lists took place in 1992.
The Pakistan list reportedly contained six installations, most of the nuclear power plants, while India listed 11 of its nuclear installations.
The agreement came under severe test last year when the two countries were poised for a military show down following the attack on the Parliament in December 2001.
But despite the rising tensions the two countries complied withthe agreement and exchanged the lists.
(Xinhua News Agency January 02, 2002)
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