India aur Pakistan ne 1 January ko apni-apni nuclear installations aur civilian prisoners ki lists diplomatic channels ke zariye exchange ki. Ye process dono capitals — New Delhi aur Islamabad — me ek saath complete hua. Despite strained bilateral ties, ye annual exercise pichhle kai decades se lagatar chali aa rahi hai aur dono nuclear-armed neighbours ke beech ek confidence-building step maana jata hai.
Nuclear installations ki list exchange 1988 ke Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities ke under hoti hai, jo 1991 se implement hai. Is agreement ke mutabik, dono desh ek-dusre ko apne nuclear facilities ki details dete hain taaki kisi bhi tarah ki galatfahmi, accidental attack ya miscalculation ko roka ja sake.
Officials ke mutabik, ye lagbhag 35th consecutive year hai jab India aur Pakistan ne bina break ke ye exchange complete kiya. Past me bhi jab political relations low point par rahe, tab bhi is agreement ko follow kiya gaya, jo iski strategic importance ko highlight karta hai.
Iske saath-saath, dono deshon ne civilian prisoners aur fishermen ki lists ka bhi exchange kiya. Ye exercise 2008 ke Consular Access Agreement ke tahat saal me do baar hoti hai. Indian side ne Pakistan ko wahan maujood Indian civilian prisoners aur fishermen ki list di, jabki Pakistan ne Indian jails me band Pakistani prisoners ki details share ki.
Ministry of External Affairs ne apne statement me kaha ki India ne Pakistan se appeal ki hai ki jo prisoners apni sentence complete kar chuke hain, unki early release aur repatriation ki jaye. Saath hi, India ne un missing Indian defence personnel ke baare me bhi information maangi hai, jinke Pakistan ke custody me hone ki possibility pehle uth chuki hai.
Pakistan ke Foreign Office ne bhi exchange ki confirmation di aur kaha ki ye process agreements ke mutabik regular basis par hota hai. Diplomats ka kehna hai ki ye steps symbolic hote hue bhi strategic stability ke liye important hote hain.Context & What Next:
Experts maante hain ki ye exchanges political disputes ka solution nahi hain, lekin nuclear risk reduction aur humanitarian issues jaise prisoners ke cases me ye ek practical channel provide karte hain. Aane wale dino me focus prisoners ki verification, consular access aur possible releases par rahega, jabki broader India-Pakistan relations filhaal unchanged hi dikh rahe hain.
