Annual exchange held; Islamabad warns India on Chenab project, backs China on Taiwan
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi speaking at the FO weekly press briefing January 1 Photo: X/FO
Pakistan and India on Thursday exchanged updated lists of their nuclear installations, continuing an annual confidence-building measure under a bilateral agreement signed in 1988, the Foreign Office said.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the exchange took place in line with the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, signed on December 31, 1988. The agreement came into force on January 27, 1991, and the two countries have shared such lists on the first day of every year since 1992.
“In continuation of the practice, the exchange took place today as well,” Andrabi told a weekly news briefing. “A list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to the representative of the Indian High Commission in the Foreign Office today.”
“I understand that the Indian government is also sharing the list of Indian nuclear installations with our High Commission in New Delhi today,” he added.
The spokesperson said the agreement requires both countries to inform each other annually of their nuclear installations and facilities. He also confirmed that Pakistan and India exchanged lists of prisoners.
“The Indian government is also sharing the list of Pakistani prisoners in their custody with the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi,” Andrabi said.
Under the Agreement on Consular Access, signed in 2008, both sides are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody on January 1 and July 1 every year.
New dams on Chenab
Addressing India’s recent moves on hydroelectric projects, Andrabi said New Delhi could not misuse its “restricted allowance” under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to unilaterally construct projects on the western rivers.
He was responding to a question about India’s approval of the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have seen these media reports regarding Indian plans to construct the Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric [project] on the Chenab River,” he said. “Obviously, these reports raise serious concerns as no prior information or notification was shared with Pakistan with regard to this project.”
Andrabi said the sharing of such information was mandated by the IWT, a World Bank-brokered water-sharing treaty signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960. The treaty grants India rights over the eastern rivers — Ravi, Sutlej and Beas — while Pakistan has rights over the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — with limited use allowed to India for purposes including power generation.
“Such acts of commission and omission yet again exemplify a complete disregard of international law and bilateral treaties,” Andrabi said. He added that Pakistan’s Indus water commissioner had sought clarification from his Indian counterpart on the nature, scope and technical details of the reported projects.
“He also wishes to ascertain whether this constitutes a new run-of-the-river project, an alteration or additional work on an existing plant,” Andrabi said.
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He stressed that any project on the western rivers was subject to strict design and operational controls, as well as information-sharing requirements. “In the absence of formal communication from the Indian side, Pakistan is unable to access the project’s conformity with the treaty provisions,” he said.
“We, therefore, call upon India to urgently return to treaty compliance and respond to the queries raised by our Indus water commissioner in his latest as well as his earlier communications,” he added.
Andrabi said Pakistan viewed the IWT as a binding international agreement and remained committed to peaceful dispute resolution, but would “never compromise on our existential water rights”.
China-Taiwan issue
On relations with China, Andrabi said Pakistan had “consistently supported China, in all matters of its core interests, including Taiwan”. He reiterated that Pakistan adhered to the One-China principle and regarded Taiwan as an inalienable part of China.
“We would urge all relevant countries to abide by their historical commitments, take steps to foster peace, security and development in Taiwan,” he said, calling on them to refrain from actions that could aggravate tensions or undermine regional stability.
Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan
The spokesperson also provided an update on Pakistani nationals stranded in Afghanistan, saying 15 students and another 291 individuals had safely returned home. “We are in contact with the Afghan authorities,” he said.
He said a total of 1,199 Pakistanis had approached the embassy in Kabul for assistance, including 549 students and 402 other individuals, adding that coordination with Taliban authorities was ongoing to ensure their safety.
Regional issues
On regional issues, Andrabi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the unity and sovereignty of Yemen and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. “We hope the Yemeni people and regional powers will work together towards a lasting solution,” he said.
He also rejected Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland and reiterated Pakistan’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty. Andrabi said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with foreign ministers from other countries and representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, had issued a statement condemning Somaliland’s unilateral recognition.
Andrabi said Dar also held telephone conversations with officials in Tabuk, Uzbekistan and Somalia, discussing diplomatic cooperation and upcoming visits, including a planned visit to China for the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue.
The spokesperson further confirmed that former National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq attended the funeral prayers of Bangladesh’s former prime minister Khaleda Zia and met her family to offer condolences. He said Sadiq also held talks with Bangladesh’s national security adviser.
Reports said Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyan Jaishankar briefly met Sadiq in Dhaka on the sidelines of the funeral, marking the first such interaction between senior officials of the two rivals since their military conflict in May. According to officials present, the two exchanged a brief handshake and pleasantries, with no formal talks reported.
