India and Pakistan Facilities List Exchanged

The International Herald Tribune reported yesterday that Islamabad and New Delhi has exchanged the list of their respective nuclear installations and facilities on New Year’s Day, in accordance with the 1988 Agreement between India & Pakistan on Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities.

According to the agreement, the term ‘nuclear installations and facilities’ includes:

…nuclear power and research reactors, fuel fabrication, uranium enrichment, isotopes separation and reprocessing facilities as well as any other installations with fresh or irradiated nuclear fuel and materials in any form and establishments storing significant quantities of radioactive materials.

Both countries have classified the list, but I learned the approximate numbers today. India has declared 30 facilities while Pakistan has declared “about 20”. The Indian government has put some university sites on the list, presumably because “significant quantities of radioactive materials” are stored there. I cannot give you more specifics than that.

It is, however, encouraging that the list continues to be exchanged despite the heightened tension between the two countries. One day, perhaps, the list will be made public. But don’t hold your breath.