Islamabad/New Delhi, January 1, 2026: Pakistan and India on Thursday exchanged lists of their respective nuclear installations, continuing the annual confidence-building measure under a bilateral agreement signed in 1988, the Foreign Office (FO) said.
FO spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, speaking at the ministry’s weekly briefing, said the exchange was carried out under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, signed on December 31, 1988, and effective from January 27, 1991. The annual exchange has been taking place on January 1 every year since 1992.
“A list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to the representative of the Indian High Commission at the Foreign Office today,” Andrabi said, adding that India was simultaneously sharing its list with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
The spokesperson also confirmed that both sides exchanged lists of prisoners as required under the Agreement on Consular Access, 2008. Pakistan handed over a list of 257 Indian prisoners,58 civilians and 199 fishermen, to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. India, he said, was sharing a list of Pakistani prisoners in its custody with Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi. Under the agreement, the exchange of prisoners’ lists takes place twice a year, on January 1 and July 1.
Indus Waters Treaty concerns
Responding to a question on India’s approval of the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Andrabi said the reports raised “serious concerns” as Pakistan had not received prior information or notification, as mandated under the *Indus Waters Treaty* (IWT).
He said Pakistan’s Indus Waters Commissioner had sought clarification from his Indian counterpart regarding the project’s nature, scope and technical details, including whether it constituted a new run-of-the-river project or an alteration to an existing facility.
“Any project on the western rivers is subject to strict design and operational controls as well as information-sharing requirements,” Andrabi said, adding that India could not misuse its “restricted allowance” under the treaty to unilaterally build hydropower projects on the western rivers.
“In the absence of formal communication from the Indian side, Pakistan is unable to assess the project’s conformity with treaty provisions,” he said, calling on India to “urgently return to treaty compliance.” He reiterated that the IWT remains a binding international agreement and said Pakistan would never compromise on its “existential water rights,” while remaining committed to peaceful dispute resolution.
Pakistan reiterates One-China policy
On a separate question regarding recent US arms sales to Taiwan, Andrabi said Pakistan “consistently supports China in all matters of its core interests, including Taiwan,” and reaffirmed Islamabad’s adherence to the One-China principle.
He urged all relevant countries to abide by their historical commitments and refrain from steps that could aggravate tensions or undermine peace and stability in the region.
Pakistanis return from Afghanistan
Addressing the issue of stranded Pakistanis in Afghanistan due to border closures, the FO spokesperson said 15 students and 291 other individuals had safely returned to Pakistan. He added that a total of 1,199 Pakistanis had approached Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul seeking assistance, including 549 students and 402 other individuals, and that Islamabad remained in contact with Afghan authorities on the matter.
