India and Pakistan have exchanged both a list of civilian prisoners and nuclear installation lists. This practice is part of an ongoing trust-building initiative; however, diplomatic relations between the two countries are currently at a stalemate, as a result of military conflicts that occurred in 2020. The exchange occurred on January 1, 2019, as per two international agreements signed by both nations, one regarding the disclosure of nuclear facilities and the other granting consular access to prisoners.
Nuclear facility lists exchanged for 35th straight year
Both nations have alerted each other of the status of their nuclear facilities and facilities through diplomatic channels through New Delhi and Islamabad in order to comply with the 1988 Protocol Between the US and USSR on Prohibition of Attack on Nuclear Installations and Facilities (the “1988 Treaty”), which mandates both sides to exchange this information on January 1 of every year. The 1988 Treaty was ratified in January 1991 and survived several significant diplomatic catastrophes, such as the Kargil Conflict in 1999, continued ceasefire breaches on the LOC (Line of Control) and most recently, the armed incident in May 2025 linked to the terrorist incident(s) in Jammu and Kashmir. The latest exchange signifies the 35th consecutive year of compliance and signifies the intent of both sides to be responsible with their respective nuclear programs despite significant diplomatic tension.
In addition to information on nuclear installations, India and Pakistan exchanged updated information on lists of prisoners and fishermen (per the 2008 Treaty on Consular Access).
The 2008 Treaty mandates the exchange of lists of prisoners and fishermen every January 1 and July 1 each year.
This week’s exchange included:
- Pakistan is holding 257 Indian citizens; these include 199 men who work on fishing boats and 58 civilians who are prisoners.
- India has 424 Pakistani citizens under its jurisdiction; among them are 33 Pakistani fishermen and 391 civil prisoners.
- Indian government has requested that the government of Pakistan do the following concerning 167 Indian fishermen and prisoners:
release these individuals and return them to India because their sentences have been completed;
- Allow consular access to 35 detainees who are believed to be Indian nationals;
- Ensure that all Indian prisoners are properly taken care of and safe until they can return home.
- Pakistan has made similar requests regarding the Pakistani citizens that are being imprisoned by India.
Humanitarian repatriations continue despite tensions
The Ministry of External Affairs states that India has facilitated the return of 2,661 fishermen and 71 civilians imprisoned by Pakistan, as a result of consistent diplomatic efforts. In total, there have been 500 fishermen and 13 civilian repatriations to-date, all occurring after 2023; such is indicative of India’s continued humanitarian assistance to Pakistan, notwithstanding any political relations.
The relatives of fishermen incarcerated on both sides usually had to endure long periods before receiving any information regarding the status of fishermen or civilian detainees. In addition, fishing boats from both countries sometimes drift into waters that have not been marked out by nautical charts; thus, they become caught up in actions resulting in arrest(s) and the possibility of incarceration for a long period of time.
Why the exchanges matter
Despite the lack of progress on broader India-Pakistan relations, the ongoing transfer of prisoner and nuclear lists suggests that both countries continue to honor bilateral treaties, demonstrate a commitment to build a stable nuclear confidence-building structure, and engage in a minimal level of humanitarian coordination in a strained bilateral relationship. In the absence Diplomatic dialogue has been frozen since the skirmish in 2017. therefore, these Exchanges serve as a rare institutional link that allows two nuclear-armed neighbors to maintain a regular means of communication, thus HOPEFULLY reducing the risk of miscalculation.
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