India and Pakistan have again fulfilled a long-standing obligation to one another by exchanging lists of nuclear installations and facilities on 1 January 2026, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed. The move continues a practice begun in 1992 under a bilateral agreement that bars either side from attacking the other’s atomic facilities.
India Pakistan nuclear installations exchange upholds annual pact
The exchange, carried out simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad, represents the 35th consecutive annual submission of notified sites under the 1988 agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities. The pact, signed on 31 December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991, obliges both governments to notify covered installations on the first day of every calendar year.
Officials in New Delhi said the lists were exchanged in accordance with the treaty’s provisions and released only a brief statement confirming the action. “India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels, simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities, covered under the agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities between India and Pakistan,” the MEA said.
Although the exchange is largely administrative, it carries symbolic and practical weight. By maintaining this routine, both capitals underline a mutual interest in preventing direct attacks on sensitive sites and in reducing the risk of escalation during periods of tension. The protocol is designed to enhance stability by ensuring that military planning and operations take account of the protected status of the notified locations.
Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained in recent months following four days of military hostilities in May 2025. Despite that deterioration, the sustained observance of the notification mechanism shows a continued, if limited, channel of communication on matters of strategic sensitivity.
Experts say the yearly exchange serves several functions: it reassures the international community that both states recognise a shared restraint regarding nuclear facilities; it reduces the likelihood of inadvertent targeting during crises; and it preserves a technical channel that can be used to verify basic compliance with the letter of the pact.
“This is not a substitute for broader dialogue, but it is an important confidence-preserving measure,” said a former diplomat who requested anonymity. “Continuity matters in these agreements; the very act of swapping lists sends a clear message that both sides accept certain rules even when relations are difficult.”
Under the agreement, the lists are limited to installations and facilities that the states deem necessary to protect. The contents of the lists are usually not public beyond the official confirmation of the exchange. Observers note that the mechanism’s longevity—35 exchanges since 1992—reflects a rare area of procedural consistency between nuclear-armed neighbours.
While the exchange does not resolve broader disputes, it represents a narrowly focused step to contain risks associated with military operations and nuclear assets. As Delhi and Islamabad head into another year with strained relations, the annual swap will likely remain a modest but significant element of the bilateral security architecture.
Key Takeaways:
- India Pakistan nuclear installations exchange marks the 35th consecutive annual swap under the 1988 pact.
- The lists were exchanged simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad.
- The agreement bars attacks on each other’s nuclear facilities and aims to reduce risk amid strained ties.
- The exchange occurred despite frozen relations following military hostilities in May 2025.
