The exchange was carried out through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, signed in 1988 and brought into force in 1991. The first such exchange took place on January 1, 1992, and the exercise has been conducted every year since without interruption.
Under the agreement, both countries commit not to attack or assist in attacks against each other’s nuclear installations. Each side shares details of civilian and military nuclear facilities to reduce the risk of miscalculation and unintended escalation.
This year’s exchange assumes added significance in the backdrop of heightened tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. During the operation, reports surfaced of an Indian drone crashing near Pakistan’s Kirana Hills in Punjab province—an area widely believed by defence analysts to be linked to Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure.
The incident triggered speculation on social media about a possible strike on nuclear-related facilities and even claims of a radiation leak. Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported the drone crash but did not confirm any damage to nuclear sites. Indian officials have consistently rejected allegations of targeting nuclear installations.
Addressing the issue after the ceasefire, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti said at a press briefing on May 12, 2025, that Indian forces had not attacked Kirana Hills or any nuclear facility. International agencies also weighed in, with an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spokesperson stating there was no evidence of nuclear leakage or radiation release from any site in Pakistan.
Strategic analysts say the continued exchange of nuclear installation lists reflects a shared recognition in New Delhi and Islamabad of the catastrophic risks associated with attacks on nuclear assets, even during periods of conventional military confrontation.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) 2025 World Nuclear Forces report, India is estimated to possess around 180 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan has approximately 170. Both countries maintain a policy framework centred on nuclear deterrence, though their doctrines and delivery capabilities differ.
Experts note that the annual exchange, while largely procedural, remains one of the few surviving bilateral confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan. Its uninterrupted continuation is seen as a stabilising factor in an otherwise volatile relationship, particularly at a time when misinformation and rapid escalation risks are amplified by digital platforms and regional security challenges.
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