India, Pakistan Exchange Nuclear & Prisoner Lists; Rare Dhaka Contact After 2025 Conflict

• India and Pakistan exchanged lists of nuclear installations and prisoners on January 1, continuing a 35-year tradition under bilateral agreements.
• The nuclear list exchange, mandated by a 1988 agreement, serves as a confidence-building measure to prevent misunderstandings between the nuclear-armed nations.
• Both countries also swapped lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen; India provided details of 391 civilians and 33 fishermen, while Pakistan shared information on 58 civilians and 199 fishermen.
• New Delhi urged Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of Indian detainees and ensure consular access and welfare.
• A rare high-level encounter occurred in Dhaka, where EAM S. Jaishankar and Pakistan's Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq met, marking the first direct contact since the May 2025 military confrontation.

Why It Matters: India and Pakistan maintained crucial communication channels through annual exchanges and a rare Dhaka meeting.