Paromita Das
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Jan. On January 1, 2025, Bharat and Pakistan continued their long-standing tradition of exchanging lists of nuclear installations and facilities, reaffirming a bilateral agreement established over three decades ago. This practice, which is now in its 34th consecutive year, is part of the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, signed in 1988. It symbolizes a rare, sustained channel of communication between the two neighboring countries despite their enduring hostilities and unresolved disputes.
As per the agreement, both nations simultaneously exchanged the lists through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. This annual ritual underscores the importance of confidence-building measures aimed at preventing nuclear escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
The Historical Genesis of the Agreement
The roots of the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities lie in a period of heightened tension between Bharat and Pakistan. In 1986-87, Bharat’s military exercise “Operation Brasstacks,” conducted near the Pakistan border, stoked fears of conflict in Islamabad. These anxieties coincided with growing concerns about nuclear escalation, prompting Bharatiya Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to explore measures to prevent hostilities involving nuclear facilities.
The agreement, signed on December 31, 1988, and implemented from January 27, 1991, laid the groundwork for both nations to annually exchange information about their nuclear assets. This practice is intended to reduce the risks of miscalculation or accidental attacks, ensuring a measure of stability amid the fraught Bharat-Pakistan relationship.
The Nature of Nuclear Installations Covered
The nuclear facilities covered under the agreement include:
- Nuclear power and research reactors.
- Uranium enrichment plants.
- Reprocessing facilities.
- Fabrication units of fissile materials.
- Sites holding significant quantities of radioactive material.
By facilitating transparency about each other’s nuclear capabilities, the agreement aims to minimize the risk of conflict stemming from misunderstandings or misinformation. This openness, while limited to the scope of the agreement, represents a significant step toward reducing the chances of escalation in South Asia.
Enduring Challenges Between Bharat and Pakistan
While the exchange of nuclear facility lists highlights a rare collaborative effort, the broader Bharat-Pakistan relationship remains mired in distrust and hostility. Key areas of contention include:
- State-Sponsored Terrorism
Bharat has consistently highlighted Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism as the primary obstacle to improved relations. The persistent threat of terror attacks, coupled with Pakistan’s strategy of “bleeding India by a thousand cuts,” has created an enduring atmosphere of mistrust. Bharat has firmly reiterated that “terror and talks cannot go hand in hand,” placing the onus on Pakistan to abandon its use of terrorism as state policy.
- The Kashmir Dispute
Pakistan continues to raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir on international platforms, often using it as a pretext for hostility. However, Bharat has maintained that the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 is an internal matter and that any hope of its reinstatement is futile. For peace to prevail, Pakistan must accept the reality of Jammu and Kashmir’s integration into Bharat and cease its sponsorship of violence in the region.
- Water Sharing Under the Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, has governed water-sharing arrangements between the two nations for decades. While Bharat has upheld its obligations under the treaty, it has begun exploring ways to fully utilize its share of the waters, which has historically been underutilized. New Delhi has also served notice to Islamabad seeking modifications to the treaty to reflect current geopolitical realities.
The Broader Implications of the Nuclear Agreement
The annual exchange of nuclear facility lists demonstrates a level of institutionalized stability that contrasts sharply with the overall adversarial nature of Bharat-Pakistan relations. The agreement has served as a buffer against potential nuclear conflicts and reflects both nations’ understanding of the catastrophic consequences of any nuclear escalation.
However, this measure of transparency exists in isolation, disconnected from the broader context of bilateral relations, which remains fraught with hostility. While the agreement has undoubtedly reduced the risk of attacks on nuclear installations, it has not translated into trust or meaningful cooperation in other areas.
A Symbol of Stability Amid Volatility
The annual exchange of nuclear facility lists is an example of how even adversarial nations can find common ground on issues of mutual survival. It represents a pragmatic acknowledgment by Bharat and Pakistan of the shared risks associated with nuclear escalation. Yet, this agreement operates in a silo, insulated from the broader tensions that define their relationship.
For the agreement to become a foundation for lasting peace, it must be supplemented by progress in resolving other contentious issues. Pakistan’s reliance on terrorism and its refusal to address long-standing concerns, such as cross-border militancy, undermine any potential for broader confidence-building.
Bharat, on the other hand, has remained firm in its stance that trust can only be rebuilt if Pakistan abandons its hostile policies. Until then, measures like the nuclear agreement will remain isolated symbols of cooperation, offering stability but not reconciliation.
Conclusion: Building on the Framework of Transparency
As Bharat and Pakistan exchanged their lists of nuclear facilities for the 34th consecutive year, they upheld a tradition that has withstood decades of political and military tensions. The agreement is a critical confidence-building measure, reducing the risk of accidental or intentional nuclear conflict in a region that has witnessed frequent hostilities.
However, the persistence of terrorism, unresolved disputes over Jammu and Kashmir, and challenges related to water-sharing continue to overshadow this isolated gesture of transparency. The agreement reflects what is possible when both nations prioritize mutual survival, but it also highlights the limits of cooperation in the absence of broader trust.
The nuclear agreement is a starting point, not a solution. For it to serve as a model for peace, it must be complemented by substantive efforts to address the deeper issues that plague Bharat-Pakistan relations. Until then, the annual exchange of nuclear facility lists will remain a necessary, if insufficient, step toward stability in South Asia.
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