Annual exchange organized; Islamabad warns India on Chenab project, supports China on Taiwan
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi speaking at FO’s weekly press briefing on January 1 Photo: X/FO
Pakistan and India exchanged updated lists of their nuclear facilities on Thursday, continuing an annual confidence-building measure under a bilateral agreement signed in 1988, the foreign ministry said.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the exchange took place in accordance with the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks on Nuclear Facilities and Facilities, signed on December 31, 1988. The agreement entered into force on January 27, 1991 and the two countries have shared these lists on the first day of each year since 1992.
“In continuation of this practice, the exchange also took place today,” Andrabi said during a weekly press briefing. “A list of nuclear facilities and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to the Indian High Commission representative at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.”
“I understand that the Indian government is also sharing the list of Indian nuclear facilities with our High Commission in New Delhi today,” he added.
The spokesperson said the agreement requires the two countries to inform each other annually about their nuclear facilities and installations. He also confirmed that Pakistan and India had exchanged lists of prisoners.
“The Indian government is also sharing the list of Pakistani prisoners held by the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi,” Andrabi said.
Under the Consular Access Agreement, signed in 2008, the two sides are required to exchange lists of prisoners held by each other on January 1 and July 1 each year.
New dams on Chenab
Addressing India’s recent initiatives on hydropower projects, Andrabi said New Delhi cannot misuse its “restricted allocation” under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to unilaterally build projects on the western rivers.
He was responding to a question on India’s approval of the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have seen these reports in the media regarding India’s plans to build the Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric power plant. [project] on the Chenab River,” he said. “Clearly, these reports raise serious concerns as no prior information or notification has been shared with Pakistan regarding this project.”
Andrabi said the sharing of this information was mandated by the IWT, a water-sharing treaty negotiated by the World Bank and signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960. The treaty grants India rights to the eastern rivers – Ravi, Sutlej and Beas – while Pakistan has rights to the western rivers – Indus, Jhelum and Chenab – with limited use permitted to India for purposes such as electricity production.
“Such acts of commission and omission once again illustrate a total disregard for 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 wants to check whether this is a new run-of-river project, a modification or additional work on an existing plant,” Andrabi said.
Read: Indian Foreign Minister meets Pakistan’s NA President on the sidelines of Khaleda Zia’s funeral
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 India, Pakistan is unable to assert that the project is in compliance with the provisions of the treaty,” he said.
“We therefore call on India to urgently return to compliance with the treaty and respond to the issues raised by our Indus Water Commissioner in his latest as well as previous communications,” he added.
Andrabi said Pakistan viewed the IWT as a binding international agreement and remained committed to peaceful resolution of disputes, but would “never compromise on our existential rights to water”.
China-Taiwan problem
On relations with China, Andrabi said Pakistan has “consistently supported China, in all issues falling within its core interests, including Taiwan.” He reiterated that Pakistan adheres to the one-China principle and regards Taiwan as an inalienable part of China.
“We urge all relevant countries to respect their historic commitments and take measures to promote peace, security and development in Taiwan,” he said, calling on them to refrain from any actions that could escalate tensions or undermine regional stability.
Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan
The spokesperson also gave an update on Pakistani nationals stranded in Afghanistan, saying 15 students and 291 others had returned home safely. “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 help, including 549 students and 402 others, adding that coordination with Taliban authorities was underway to ensure their safety.
Regional issues
On regional issues, Andrabi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Yemen’s unity and sovereignty and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. “We hope that the Yemeni people and regional powers will work together to find 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 of other countries and representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, issued a statement condemning the unilateral recognition of Somaliland.
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 former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and met her family to offer condolences. He added that Sadiq also spoke to Bangladesh’s national security advisor.
According to reports, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyan Jaishankar briefly met Sadiq in Dhaka on the sidelines of the funeral, marking the first such interaction between senior officials from the two rivals since their military conflict in May. According to officials present, the two men exchanged a brief handshake and pleasantries, with no formal discussion reported.
