Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday confirmed that, as per existing agreements, Pakistan and India have exchanged lists of their nuclear installations and prisoners in each other’s custody at the start of the new year.
“Pakistan and India exchanged the lists of their respective nuclear installations pursuant to the agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India signed on Dec. 31, 1988,” he told a weekly press briefing in Islamabad. “The list of nuclear installations and facilities was officially handed over to the representative of the Indian High Commission in the Foreign Office today (Thursday). I understand that the Indian government is also sharing the list of Indian nuclear installations with our High Commission in New Delhi,” he added.
Andrabi said both countries had also exchanged lists of prisoners in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels.
During the briefing, the Foreign Office also called on India to respond to formal queries raised by its Indus Waters Commissioner over the proposed Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project. The spokesperson said New Delhi had failed to share prior information as required under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.
“No prior information or notification was shared with Pakistan with regard to this project as mandated under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960,” he said. “Such acts of commission and omission yet again exemplify a complete disregard of international law.”
The Dulhasti hydropower project is located on the Chenab River in the disputed region of India-held Kashmir. It was commissioned in 2007 with minimal objections from Pakistan, but India last month approved a 260MW Stage II extension.
Andrabi emphasized that Pakistan considers the treaty legally binding despite India’s stance of holding it in “abeyance.”
Regional tensions
During his briefing, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s concern over the ongoing developments in Yemen. He said Islamabad had emphasized the Yemen crisis should be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic means and reiterated its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
Andrabi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a telephonic conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during which both leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional matters. “We have been advocating peace and diplomacy to reach a solution. So, this is part of our exchanges that is taking place between our leadership and the leadership in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi,” he said.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes on Yemen’s southern port of Mukalla, targeting what it described as weapons and armored vehicles allegedly supplied to the Southern Transitional Council (STC). Abu Dhabi subsequently announced a voluntary pullout from Yemen of its remaining counterterrorism units.
The spokesperson said Pakistan is pursuing the issue through multilateral forums as well, including the U.N. Security Council. He said the country had advocated, at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, “for peace, dialogue, role for diplomacy, including peaceful settlement for a Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned political process.”
Andrabi also reiterated Pakistan’s support for China’s position on Taiwan.
He confirmed that National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had represented Pakistan at the funeral prayers of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. “The speaker also conveyed condolences to the son and daughter of the late leader on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan,” he said.
Andrabi said Pakistan has rejected Israel’s move to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, terming it a violation of international law. Islamabad fully supports Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, he added.