India and Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear installations
India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of their nuclear installations, adhering to a long-standing agreement that has been in place for over three decades. This annual exchange, held on January 1, 2025, is part of a bilateral accord that prohibits attacks on nuclear facilities, ensuring a degree of transparency and mutual reassurance between the two nations.
The agreement, originally signed in 1988 and ratified in 1991, mandates the
exchange of lists of nuclear installations every year. This marks the 34th
consecutive exchange, with the first list being shared on January 1, 1992.
According to India’s Foreign Ministry, the lists were exchanged through
diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad.
“The two countries have exchanged the list of nuclear installations and
facilities covered under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks against
Nuclear Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan,” the ministry
stated.
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Nuclear Capabilities of India and Pakistan
As of 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
estimates that India possesses 172 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan has 170.
SIPRI also noted that India, Pakistan, and North Korea are advancing toward the
capability to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles, a capacity
already held by nuclear powers like Russia, France, the UK, the USA, and China.
The Centre for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation (ACA) highlights that
Pakistan currently operates six nuclear-capable, land-based ballistic missile
systems, with both short-range (under 1000 km) and medium-range (1000-3000 km)
capabilities. Additionally, Pakistan is developing three medium-range missiles,
one of which, the Ababeel, is capable of carrying multiple independently
targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs).
The ACA further noted that some of Pakistan’s short-range ballistic
missiles, such as the new Nasr (Hatf-9), have ranges that fall short of
reaching targets within India, leading analysts to speculate that these are
intended for battlefield use against invading Indian forces. Pakistan's land-based
nuclear forces also rely on road-mobile delivery systems, which have seen
significant expansion, including the introduction of new solid-fuel rockets.
Experts predict that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal could grow to around 200
warheads by 2025, making it the fifth-largest in the world.
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Tensions Between India and Pakistan
Relations between the two countries have been fraught with tension since
their independence from Britain in 1947. A primary point of contention is the
Kashmir region, which is divided between India and Pakistan, both of which
claim the territory in full. This territorial dispute has led to multiple
conflicts, and New Delhi has repeatedly accused Islamabad of supporting
cross-border terrorism and militancy in the Muslim-majority region. Meanwhile,
Pakistan has criticized India for its alleged violations of the humanitarian
rights of Kashmiris.
Diplomatic and economic relations between India and Pakistan have
deteriorated further since 2019, following the Pulwama attack in Kashmir, which
killed 40 Indian soldiers. In retaliation, India conducted a "surgical
strike" on a terrorist group in Balakot, Pakistan. Later that year,
Islamabad downgraded diplomatic ties with India after the Indian government,
under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked the special constitutional status
of Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite ongoing tensions, the exchange of nuclear lists serves as a reminder
of the importance of maintaining communication and understanding between the
two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Source: https://www.globalvillagespace.com/