South Asia Confidence-Building Measures (CBM) Timeline

Stimson’s South Asia program maintains this timeline chronicling Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) made in South Asia since 1988, and updates it regularly with new events, agreements, and links to relevant news articles. 

2017
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange list of respective nuclear facilities [MEA India, Hindustan Times]
 
January 1
Exchange of list of prisoners between India and Pakistan [MEA India, Hindustan Times]
 
January 5
World Bank Holds Meet With India On Indo-Pak Indus Treaty, though India and Pakistan both want to respect the treaty, no compromise is reached, renegotiation by WB set for a later date. [Hindustan Times, Dawn ]
January 5
200 Indian Fishermen Freed From Pakistan Prison as goodwill gesture
January 21
Indian soldier in custody since September 2016 released to India
January 25
February 5
Pakistan thanks India for returning boy to mother [BBC, The Hindu ]
February 20
India cautiously welcomes Pakistan’s bid to list Hafiz Saeed under terrorism law [Live Mint , the Hindu]
February 21
India, Pakistan extend pact on cutting risk of nuclear-related mishaps  [Express Tribune, Economic Times]
 
February 24
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said Islamabad and New Delhi should maintain friendly and good relations [ Hindustan, Gulf  News]
March 1
India releases 39 prisoner and fisherman to Pakistan [MEA, The Times of India]
March 17
Officials from India and Pakistan discussed problems relating to Indus Basin at the two-day Indus Water Commission meeting which began on Monday after a gap of nearly two years. [First Post, Dawn ]
May 5
Indo-Pak trade flourishes amidst tension  [First Post, Kashmir Monitor]
May 24
Islamabad orders the release of 350 Indian fishermen [First Post, NDTV]
June 5
India-Pakistan DGMO held unscheduled talks over LoC  to lodge a protest over alleged killing of some civilians on their side by Indian army’s retaliatory firing [The Hindu, Indian Express]
August 1
Indus Water Treaty: India-Pakistan talks held in spirit of goodwill, cooperation with World Bank Mediators [World Bank, Indian Express]
August 3
Former Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit thanked India when he left his post in the country after serving as envoy in New Delhi for four years. [News 18, NDTV]
August 15
 71st Independence Day: BSF, Pakistani Rangers exchange pleasantries at Attari-Wagah border [ Times of India, NDTV ]
August 15
India to grant medical visa to Pakistan nationals in genuine pending cases [Live Mint, Gulf News]
August 23
India, Pakistan hold flag meeting after numerous ceasefire violations and civilian casualties along the LoC [Times of India, The Hindu]
September 14-15
Another round of the Secretary-level discussions between India and Pakistan for the Indus Waters Treaty took place on September 14-15 in Washington, D.C. [World Bank, The Hindu
 
September 22
India rebuts Pakistan charge of provoking fire, use DGMO hotline to resolve [The Hindu, Live Mint]
September 29
BSF, Pakistan Rangers hold talks, agree to peace along border [Indian Express , Hindustan Times ]
October 6
Pakistan International Airlines makes 2nd flight to India [Economic Times, Financial Express Times]
October 9-15
India, Pakistan, China Army commanders to discuss on Doklam face-off
October 22
Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood held a first high-level meeting with Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj [ pakistankakhudahafiz.com  , Livemint ]
October 29
Pakistan frees 68 Indian fishermen as goodwill gesture [ The Hindu , Express Tribune ]
 
October 29
431 Pakistani Minorities Get Long-Term Indian Visa, Can Get PAN, Aadhaar, Buy Property
October 30
India, Pakistan DGMOs talk over LoC firing [The Hindu , Geo.TV ]
 
November  2
Pakistan issues visas to over 2600 Sikhs [ India Today , Economic Times ]
November 2
India returns 13 Pakistani prisoners, including 2 women and girl born in captivity [ Dawn , SAMAA TV]
 
2016
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange list of respective nuclear facilities [MEA India, Zee News]
January 1
 
Exchange of list of prisoners between India and Pakistan [MEA India, The Hindu]
January 20
Prime Minister of Pakistan appreciates support by Indian PM after Charsadda Incident [MEA,
January 29
India and Pakistan extend Agreement Related to Rail Communication until January 2019. [Daily Time, Hindustan Times]
February 26
India and Pakistan extend maritime cooperation memorandum of understanding for five years [MEA, Huffington Post]
 
March 8
Pakistan releases 87 Indian prisoners [MFA, The Hindu]
 
April 1
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Pakistan visits India and meets with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India regarding the Pathankot attack. [MEA, The Hindu ]
 
April 10
Pakistan expresses condolences over temple fire in Kerala [ MFA, Hindustan Times]
 
April 26
Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers meet on the sidelines of “Heart of Asia” Meeting [MEA, Dawn]
 
May 31
Indian PM sends message of good health to Pakistani PM [Express Tribune, Hindustan Times]
 
June 7
Pakistan releases 18 Indian fishermen. [Indian Express, Express Tribune]
 
 
July 1
Exchange of list of prisoners between India and Pakistan [MEA India, Dawn]
December 24
PM Modi Wishes Happy Birthday to Shariff
December 25
Pakistan frees 220 Indian Fisherman [ Dawn,  The Hindu]
 
 
 
2015
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nuclear installations, as part of an agreement banning the countries from attacking each other’s nuclear facilities. The exchange has occurred on the first day of each year since 1992, making it the 24th consecutive exchange. Both countries also exchange lists of the other country’s nationals lodged in their jails [The Express Tribune], [ The Hindu]
January 22
India releases 20 Pakistani prisoners (including 17 fishermen) as a gesture of goodwill [Daily TimesDawn]
February 13
Indian Prime Minister Modi wishes the Pakistan cricket team good luck at the World Cup.  Modi also makes calls to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. [DawnThe Times of India]
February 15
Pakistan releases 172 Indian fishermen, two days after the Prime Ministers from both countries decided to resume foreign secretary-level talks. [The Indian Express, NDTV]
March 3
Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistan counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry meet for foreign secretary-level talks.  This is the first time India and Pakistan have held the talks since September 8, 2012. [The Indian ExpressThe Times of India]
March 21
Pakistan releases 57 Indian fishing boats as a goodwill gesture following diplomatic talks between Islamabad and New Delhi. [The HinduDawn]
April 7
Pakistan offers India a special aircraft to facilitate the return of 11 Indian citizens who were evacuated by a Pakistani naval ship from Yemen.  India accepts Pakistan’s offer. [The Economic TimesDawn]
June 16
Indian Prime Minister Modi calls Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif to extend his best wishes for Ramadan. [DawnExpress Tribune]
June 18
Pakistan releases 113 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture ahead of Ramadan. [The Economic TimesExpress Tribune]
July 1
India and Pakistan exchange list of prisoners lodged in the others’ jails, through diplomatic channels [NDTV, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan]
 
July 10
Indian Prime Minister Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif meet for diplomatic talks in Ufa, Russia. During the hour-long meeting, they decide to hold NSA-level talks on all issues connected to terrorism, as well as early meetings of the director-general Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers, and the director generals of military operations of both countries. India and Pakistan also agree to expedite the Mumbai terror attack trial, and Modi accepted the invitation to visit Pakistan for the SAARC summit in 2016. [Ministry of External Affairs India, Dawn]  
July 22
Media reports that Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif sent a box of mangoes to Indian Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of Eid the previous week. [The Indian Express, Dawn]
July 23
India sends a letter to Pakistan, inviting National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz to New Delhi for talks on August 23. [The Times of India, The Indian Express]
July 27
Pakistan condemns terrorist attack on a police station in Gurdaspur, close to the Indian side of the Indo-Pak border [Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan, Hindustan Times]
July 27
Pakistan expresses condolences on the death of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam [NDTV, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan]
August 2
Pakistan releases 163 Indian fishermen, as per the understanding reached between the prime ministers in Ufa, Russia on July 10. [The Express Tribune, NDTV]
August 7
India releases 16 Pakistani prisoners, and as a follow-up to the Ufa agreement of July 10, announces withdrawal of cases against nine Pakistani fishermen, to be repatriated to Pakistan the next day. [Ministry of External Affairs India, Dawn]
August 14
Indian Prime Minister Modi conveys his wishes to Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif on the country’s Independence Day [NDTV, The Hindu]     
August 15
Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif sends greetings to Indian Prime Minister Modi on the country’s Independence Day [NDTV, The Hindu]
August 18
Pakistan’s foreign ministry announces that President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain has sent a condolence letter on the passing of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s wife [Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan, The Economic Times]
August 24
Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz says that the meeting between the director-general of Pakistan Rangers and that of Border Security Force, as well as director generals of military operations, will go ahead as planned, despite cancellation of NSA-level talks [The Express Tribune, DNA
 
2014
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nuclear installations, as part of an agreement banning the countries from attacking each other’s nuclear facilities. The exchange has occurred on the first day of each year since 1992. Both countries also exchange lists of the other country’s nationals lodged in their jails. [Dawn],[ The Hindu]
January 17
Military officials from Pakistan and India agree to further strengthen the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) during a brigadier-level flag meeting held at the Rawalakot-Poonch crossing point at the LoC. [Express Tribune], [IPCS]
January 18
Commerce Ministers agree to establish reciprocal Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA).The ministers also agreed to open the Wagah-Attari border for trade at all times of the year. [The Hindu], [IPCS]
February 12
Trade across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir resumes after being suspended for a month. [Express Tribune], [The Nation]
March 4
The Joint Working Group on Cross-Line of Control CBMs meets in New Delhi for the first time in eighteen months. [The Diplomat],[Dawn]
May 25
Pakistan frees 151 Indian fishermen as a gesture of goodwill preceding Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to Delhi. [Times of India], [  Express Tribune]
May 26
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attends Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. Modi invited Sharif to his inauguration along with the heads of all other SAARC countries. [Dawn], [ The Hindu]
May 27
Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Modi meet the day after Modi’s inauguration. Both promise to move immediately to normalize trade relations and agree on a future meeting of both countries’ foreign ministers. [Hindustan Times], [ Express Tribune
May 28
India releases 32 Pakistani fishermen, in reciprocation of Pakistan’s release of prisoners three days before. [The Hindu], [ The Nation]
June 5
Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif sends Indian Prime Minister Modi’s mother a white sari, returning the favor after Modi gifted Sharif’s mother a shawl. [Dawn], [ The Hindu]
July 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of the other country’s nationals lodged in their jails. Prisoner lists are required to be exchanged bi-annually on January 1 and July 1, according to an agreement signed in 2008. [Dawn], [  Indian Express]
July 4
India releases nine Pakistani prisoners, including five fishermen. [ Express Tribune],
July 21
Pakistan releases 57 Indian fishing boats as a goodwill gesture, following a two-day visit by an Indian delegation to Karachi to discuss the matter. [The Hindu],[ The Express Tribune]
August 8
Pakistan hands back an Indian Border Security Forces soldier who was accidentally swept across a river into Pakistani territory two days before. The soldier reported that his stay in Pakistan was comfortable and he was treated well. [Times of India], [ Pakistan Today]
August 27
Military officials from Pakistan and India meet to discuss ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) during a flag meeting held at in Pargwal forward belt in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu. [Express Tribune], [ Deccan Chronicle]
September 3
Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif sends a crate of his favorite mangoes to Prime Minister Modi as a goodwill gesture following India’s cancellation of the foreign secretary talks. [Times of India], [  Dawn]
November 28
Pakistan releases 40 Indian prisoners (mostly fisherman) following the SAARC Summit in Nepal. [ Indian Express], [  Express Tribune
 
 
 
2013
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nuclear installations, as part of an agreement banning the countries from attacking each other’s nuclear facilities. The exchange has occurred on the first day of each year since 1992 Both countries also exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody [The Nation], [Express Tribune
January 3
Chief Minister of Gujarat Province, Nardendra Modi, invites a delegation from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to attend the sixth Vibrant Gujarat Investor Summit. [Times of India], [India Today
January 15
The Indian government begins a new visa regime for Pakistani passport holders 65 and over, but suspends it after a few hours due to “technical issues”. [Dawn], [ Express Tribune]
January 16
Directors General of Military Operations in India and Pakistan agree to de-escalate the situation along the Line of Control. Additionally, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar offers to talk with her Pakistani counterpart in a separate attempt to ease tension. [The Hindu],[Dawn
January 22
Pakistani Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, announces that all Indian fishermen will soon be relased from Pakistani jails. [The Hindu ], [ Express Tribune]
March 9
Pakistani Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, visits the Indian city of Jaipur. [Dawn],
July 1
Pakistan and India exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s’ custody. Lists are required to be exchanged bi-annually on January and July 1. [Dawn], [Express Tribune]
August 24
Pakistan releases 337 Indian fishermen. [The Hindu], [ Dawn]
September 29
Indian and Pakistani prime ministers meet in New York, on sidelines of UN General Assembly. [New York Times], [ Dawn]
December 24
Indian and Pakistani DGMOs meet at Wagah for the first time in 14 years, reaffirm ceasefire along the LoC. [Dawn], [ The Hindu]
 
2012
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear facilities as well as lists of prisoners in each other’s custody. [Times of India], [MEA India]
January 7
Pakistan releases 179 fishermen. [Dawn], [CNN]
June 27
Pakistan releases Surjeet Singh, an Indian man captured in Pakistan’s eastern border region nearly 30 years ago. Singh was initially sentenced to death in 1985, but this was commuted to life in prison in 1989. President Asif Ali Zardari approved his release as a goodwill gesture. [ Express Tribune], [ Dawn]
June 27
Pakistan released over 300 Indian fishermen who were arrested over the past several months for straying over a murky border in the salt marsh of Sir Creek [ Guardian],[ Dawn]
June 29
Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram announces that Ansari was present in the control room in Pakistan during the Mumbai attacks [Times of India],[ Dawn]
July 1
Pakistan and India exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody [Dawn],[ Express Tribune ]
August 1
The Indian government allows for Pakistani citizens and companies to invest in India in all areas except for defense, space, and atomic energy. This was part of a roadmap drawn up by trade ministers from Pakistan and India. [The Hindu], [Express Tribune]
August 15
Pakistan releases 55 Indian fishermen as a ‘goodwill’ gesture to mark Independence day in India [Dawn],[Economic Times]
September 8
India and Pakistan sign visa agreement easing travel restrictions for businessmen and introducing a new category of group tourism. The Foreign Ministers also expanded cross-LoC Confidence-Building Measures to allow travel for tourism and pilgrimage. [The Hindu],[ MEA India]
September 10
Pakistan releases 48 Indian fishermen, pledges to release another 32, as a goodwill gesture. [Express TribuneThe Hindu]
September 29
India releases 46 Pakistani fishermen as a goodwill gesture. [The Hindu],[  Dawn]
October 25
Pakistan releases Indian prisoner who entered Pakistan without passport in 2007, the prisoner had completed his sentence in 2010 but remained in custody. [The Hindu ], 
October 31
Pakistan’s cabinet approves visa liberalization deal signed with India in September. [Dawn], [Express Tribune]
November 11
Pakistan releases 15 Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds. [Business Standard], [Times of India]
November 20
Pakistani President Zardari confirms ratification of the visa liberalization deal between India and Pakistan. [Dawn], [ The Hindu]
December 11
Indian Supreme Court orders release of Pakistani prisoner, Dr Khalil Christi. [Dawn], [BBC]
December 14
Pakistan and India formalize the new eased visa regime. [Wilson Center (pg. 26)], [Geo TV]
December 19
Border guards from India and Pakistan hold quarterly meeting in Amritsar to discuss border security issues. [Zee News], [Business Standard]
 
2011
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear facilities Pakistan also gives [MEA India], [MOFA Pakistan]
January 1
India a list of Indians lodged in Pakistani jails, as per an agreement signed in 2008. [MOFA Pakistan], [Express Tribune
 
February 11
Foreign Secretaries Nirupama Rao and Salmon Bashir agree to resume structured dialogue [The Hindu], [Economic Times]
March 27
Pakistani President Zardari remitted the sentence of Indian convict Gopal Das [Dawn], [NDTV]
March 28-29
India and Pakistan’s home secretaries meet in New Delhi. Both sides commit to fight terrorism and provide information on on-going terrorism investigations. India also belatedly hands over its list of Pakistanis lodged in Indian jails, which was due on January 1 [Dawn], [The Times of India]
March 30
India and Pakistan’s prime ministers meet for the semi-finals of the 2011 Cricket World Cup in New Delhi. [Voice of America], [ESPN Cricinfo]
April 11
Pakistan frees 89 Indian prisoners and fishermen. [The Hindu],[Dawn]
June 23
 
India and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretaries meet in Islamabad, possibly signaling upcoming Foreign Minister-level talks. [Express Tribune], [The Hindu]
July 27
The Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan meet in New Delhi.  [Voice of America], [MEA India]
September 28
India and Pakistan announce a plan to “normalize” bilateral trade. [The New York Times],[Reuters]
October 12
Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar says that Pakistan had made a principled decision to grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India [Express Tribune], [Geo TV]
November 2
Pakistan approves Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for India. [BBC],[Express Tribune]
November 10
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announces his intention to move toward a Preferential
Trade Agreement with Pakistan under SAFTA that will lead to zero customs duty on all traded goods by 2016 [The Hindu],[Reuters]
December 27
 
India, Pakistan agree to extend ballistic missile test notification and nuclear confidence building measures [The Economic Times] , [The Nation
 
2010
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear facilities. Pakistan also gives India a list of Indians lodged in Pakistani jails; however India for the third time in a row fails to provide an equivalent list to Pakistan. [Tribune India ] , [ MEA India
July 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nationals lodged in each other’s jails, as per an agreement signed in 2008. This is the first time that India has participated in the exchange of lists since it suspended participation in the CBM following the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.[ Express Tribune], [The Hindu]
August 13
India offers $5 million in flood aid to Pakistan [The Nation], [The Hindu]
September 1
India offers an additional $20 million in flood aid to Pakistan [Times of India],[Daily Star]
September 5
Pakistan releases 80 Indian fishermen [NDTV], [The Hindu]
 
2009
January 1
For the 18th consecutive year, India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear facilities (see entry for December 31, 1988). Pakistan also hands over a list of Indians held in Pakistani prisons, while India seeks more time to compile its list of Pakistanis in Indian prisons (see entry for May 21, 2008). [Dawn ][MEA India ]
July 1
Pakistan gives India a list of Indians held in Pakistani prisons, however India fails to hand 
over its list of Pakistanis lodged in Indian prisons (see entry for May 21, 2008). [Dawn], [The Hindu
July 16
The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Egypt, issue a joint statement “charting the way forward in India – Pakistan relations.” [Reuters], [Tribune India]
 
 
 
2008
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities.
February 5
India and Pakistan sign an agreement allow regular contact between India’s military-funded Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) and Pakistan’s state-run Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS). The purpose is to build channels of communication at the level of scholars. [The Hindu], [Dawn]
February 26
The first meeting of a joint Indo-Pak judicial committee of eight retired senior judges from Pakistan and India was held to look into the condition of prisoners jailed in both countries, seek release of those whose sentences have been served, and to discuss all related matters, including future procedures. [Indian Express], [MEA India]
March 3
Kashmir Singh, an Indian national in prison in Pakistan for 35 years on charges of spying for India and sentenced to death, is released. [Times of India], [The Hindu]
March 19
A Pakistani national arrested in India over two years ago on charges of spying and possessing fake currency was released and handed over to Pakistani authorities at the Wagah land border after being acquitted by a court. [The Hindu], [Times of India]
March 27
Pakistan Rangers biannual meeting with Indian Border Security Forces
April 16
“Khuda Kay Liye” or “In the Name of God” becomes the first Pakistani film in four decades to be approved for release in Indian theaters. [New York Times], [ABC]
April 24
India joins a signed a framework agreement with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan on a $7.6 billion gas pipeline project. The line will be 1,680-km Turkemenistan -Afghanistan- Pakistan -India (TAPI), supply 3.2 billion cubic feet per day (90 MMSCMD) and gas flows are expected from 2015. Pakistan and India have agreed to share equally in the gas volume. [Reuters ], [The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute]
May 21
The Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan agree to a series of Kashmir-specific CBMs, including a triple-entry permit to facilitate crossing the Line of Control. The two ministers also agree to provide consular access to prisoners in each other’s countries. [Thaindian News], [The Hindu]
May 25
Pakistan’s top rock band, Junoon, was allowed by the Indian government to perform at Srinagar in the biggest musical event in the disputed valley in decades. [Dawn], [Reuters]
July 19
The Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan agree to a series of Kashmir-specific CBMs, including a triple-entry permit to facilitate crossing the Line of Control. [The Hindu],[Institute of Regional Studies]
 
September 25
Pakistani President Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Singh formally announced the opening of several trade routes between the two countries. The Wagah-Atari road link and the Khokrapar-Munnabao rail link will both be opened to trade, as will the cross-LoC Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot roads. [Reuters India], [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 306]
October 9
A delegation of business leaders from Pakistan-administered Kashmir visits the Indian-controlled side to discussed cross-LoC trade. [BBC], [USIP]
October 21
Trade across the Line of Control commences as the first trucks cross the line that divides Kashmir. Trade is limited to 21 items, and can take place on two days each week. [New York Times], [Tribune India ]
October 23
A second trade route across the Line of Control is opened. The route connects the cities of Rawalkot and Poonch. [Dawn],[ The Nation]
November 25
Pakistan frees 101 Indian prisoners, including 99 fishermen, in advance of a meeting in Islamabad between the Home Minister of India and the Federal Interior Secretary of Pakistan. [Rediff], [The Nation]
November 25
At the fifth round of home secretary-level talks, Pakistan and India agree to enhance cooperation between their civilian investigation and security agencies to deal with several cross-border issues. [Dawn], [World News]
December 27
In the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks by Islamic extremists that result in over 180 fatalities, the Indian and Pakistani Directors General of Military Operations make unscheduled use of their hotline to discuss troop movements along their border. One likely topic of discussion was Indian troop rotations to exercise areas near the Pakistan border and small-scale counter-deployments by Pakistani troops. [Dawn], [Indian Express]
 
2007
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities.  [The Hindu], [MEA India]
February 21
India and Pakistan sign agreement on “Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons.” [World Politics Review], [MEA India]
July 6
India’s University of Mumbai and Pakistan’s University of Sindh sign a memorandum of understanding for exchange of faculty, scholars, and students. [The Hindu], [Lahore Journal of Economics]
August 14
India released 72 Pakistani nationals, including 48 fishermen and 24 prisoners from Indian jails, and Pakistan released 135 Indian nationals, including 100 fishermen and 35 prisoners, from its jails. [Indian Express], [The News Pakistan]
August 16
India released and repatriated 16 Pakistani militants from eight jails in Jammu and Kashmir. [The Hindu], [United Service Institution]
October 1
The first overland truck route between India and Pakistan is opened at the Wagah border crossing. [The Guardian ], [Tribune India]
October 19
Pakistan and India hold the Fifth Round of talks to review nuclear and missile related CBMs as part of the Composite Dialogue process. The second round of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism (JATM) was held the following week. [The Hindu], [MEA India]
 2006
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities. [Tribune India ], [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 303]
January 20
Bus service from Lahore to Amritsar begins. [People’s Daily ], [Tribune India]
January 7-February 19
India-Pakistan cricket series in Pakistan. [Rediff], [ESPN Cricinfo]
February 1
Pakistan and India agree to open rail links between Munnabao in Rajasthan and Khokhrapar in Sind on February 18th. [Tribune India], [Dawn]
February 7
India redeploys 5000 troops from Jammu and Kashmir citing “improvement” in situation. [The Hindu], [Al Jazeera]
February 18
India and Pakistan resume train service after 40 years. [Tribune India], [Dawn]
February 22
Pakistani journalists travel to India. [Rediff], [Tribune India]
March 7
Pakistan and India agree to expand air service agreement. [Rediff], [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 303]
March 7
Indo-Pak night bus service from Ferozepur and Fazilka to Ludhiana-Chandigarh resumes. [Rediff], [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 303]
March 22
India and Pakistan agree to jointly fight human trafficking, counterfeit currency trade, and illegal immigration. [Dawn], [MEA India]
March 24
Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service is flagged off. [Times of India], [CBS]
April 11
Biannual meeting between Indian Border Security Forces and Pakistani Rangers [Tribune], [One India]
April 27
The governments of India and Pakistan agree to reduce the risk of nuclear accidents, prohibit new posts and defense works along the Line of Control (LoC) and to speedily return inadvertent line crossers. [The Hindu],[Dawn]
 
May 3
India and Pakistan reach an agreement to revive trade in Kashmir. [Dawn],[The Hindu]
May 25
India announces the establishment of five working groups based on issues central to the Kashmir problem. [Indian Express], [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 303]
May 29
India repatriates 59 Pakistani fishermen [Tribune India], [Times of India]
 
May 30
India and Pakistan formally agree to trade raw products between divided regions of Jammu and Kashmir. [Dawn],[ Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 303]
June 1
India and Pakistan agree to host festivals displaying each other’s movies. [IPCS], [South Asian Studies]
September 16
President Musharraf and Prime Minister Singh agree to “put in place an India-Pakistan anti-terrorism institutional mechanism to identify and implement counter-terrorism initiatives and investigations.” [MEA India] ,[Rediff]
December 15
India and Pakistan sign a revised shipping protocol that removes restrictions in place since 1975. The protocol allows lifting of third country cargo by Indian and Pakistani vessels from each other’s ports and it also lifted the restriction that the cargo destined for the other country could be carried only by an Indian or Pakistani vessel. [The Hindu], [One India]
December 22
Indian and Pakistani authorities exchange prisoners. [BBC], [Tribune India]
 
2005
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities. [MEA India], [The Hindu]
January 6
Pakistan releases 266 Indian fishermen arrested in 2004. [Dawn], [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 302]
February 16-17
Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh visits Islamabad. [The Hindu ][ MEA Foreign Relations 2005, pg. 58]
February 28-April 18
Pakistan’s cricket team travels to India for the first time in six years. [BBC], [ESPN Cricinfo]
April 7
First bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad is flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi. [The Hindu], [BBC]
April 17
Pakistani President Musharraf visits India amidst India-Pakistani cricket match [The Washington Post],[China Daily]
May 10
Expert level meeting in Rawalpindi held on the establishment of a communication link between Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and Indian Coast Guard. Both sides resolve outstanding issues in a Memorandum of Understanding. [Dawn][Pak Tribune]
August 5-6
Talks on nuclear confidence building measures commence between high level Indian and Pakistani experts. [Rediff], [Tribune India]
August 8
Expert level meeting on conventional confidence building measures. [Dawn], [MEA Press Release]
August 29-30
Expert level meeting on terrorism and drug trafficking. [Tribune India ], [The Hindu]
September 1
Meeting of Foreign Secretaries in Islamabad where they review the implementation of the peace process. [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 302], [MEA press release]
September 12
India and Pakistan agree to exchange 585 prisoners. [BBC News], [New York Times]
October 3
Signing of an agreement on advance notification of ballistic missile tests. [Arms Control Association] [MEA Treaty]
October 4
Agreement reached on the establishment of hot line between the two their maritime security agencies to facilitate early exchange of information regarding apprehended fishermen who inadvertently stray into the other side’s territorial waters. [The Hindu], [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 302]
November 11
Pakistan accepts 25 tons of food, medicine, tents, blankets, plastic sheets from India after the earthquake from October to November. [NBC], [New York Times]
 
2004
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities.
January 1
Air links between the two countries resume. [ BBC ],
January 4-6
Vajpayee and Musharraf hold direct talks on January 5 at the 12th SAARC summit in Islamabad. [ The Hindu ], [CNN]
January 15
Passenger and freight rail service resumes between Attari and Lahore. [BBC], [Tribune India ]
February 1
India and Pakistan agree on a five-point agenda to initiate dialogue process. [Rediff ], [Governance, Development and Conflict, pg 300 ]
February 17-18
Pakistani and Indian Foreign Secretaries meet in Murree, Pakistan for May-June preparatory talks.  [Rediff], [CBC News]
February 20
First flag meeting between Indian and Pakistani army units in three years takes place in Chorbat La sector in India.[ The Hindu ], [Governance, Development and Conflict, pg 300 ]
March 10-April18
Indian cricket team travels to Pakistan for a historic cricket series, the first at a non-neutral site since 1989. [BBC], [ The Guardian]
June 15-16
Meeting of narcotics officials in Islamabad where both parties agree to share information and adopt a coordinated strategy to prevent drug trafficking and smuggling between the two countries.[ Tribune India] , [
June 19-20
Delegations from Pakistan and India convene in New Delhi to hold expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs [MEA India], [ Tribune India ]
June 20-21
Foreign Ministers of both countries meet at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) meeting in China where they reaffirm their intention to open both countries’ consulates in Karachi and Bombay. [MOFA Japan] , [ Tribune India ]
June 22
India and Pakistan hold Secretary level talks on Baglihar Hydroelectric Project [Tribune India],[MEA India]
June 26-27
Meeting of Foreign Secretaries in New Delhi when they discuss dialogue on Peace and Security and Jammu and Kashmir. [ MEA India] [ SATP]
June 29-July 2
Foreign Ministers of both countries meet at the ASEAN Regional forum in Jakarta where Pakistan is formally accepted as a member of the ARF after India drops its objections. [Regional Trade Integration and Conflict Resolution pg. 158 ] , [Frontline ]
July 20-21
Foreign Ministers of both countries meet at the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in Islamabad. [The Hindu ],[BBC ]
August 9
Both countries carry out an exchange of six prisoners of war at the Wagah border post. [BBC News], [The Hindu]
 
August 11-12
Meeting of commerce secretaries in Islamabad to discuss dialogue on economic and commercial cooperation. Both sides agree to promote bilateral trade ties and enhance cooperation in various sectors. [Tribune India ],[Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies]
August 31
India and Pakistan exchange 55 prisoners along the Wagah border crossing. [Tribune India], [Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 301]
September 4
Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Delhi where the two sides agree on thirteen points, and indicating willingness for a ‘road map’ for peace process. [Taipei Times],[China Daily]
September 19
India announces it will ease visa rules for visiting Pakistani journalists, doctors and academics. [Dawn] , [ Times of India ]
September 24
President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meet for talks in New York on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly.[ Dawn], [CNN]
October 4-11
Pakistani journalists visit Jammu and Kashmir. [Times of India] , [The Hindu]
October 11
Biannual meeting between Indian Border Security Forces and Pakistani Rangers in Chandigarh at which there is an agreement on nine areas. They also agree that local commanders meet more frequently to resolve local problems. [Tribune],[Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 301]
 
November 8
Twenty-five Pakistani prisoners handed over by India at the Wagah border crossing. [Tribune India ],[ Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 301]
November 16
On the eve of a visit to Jammu Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announces to reduce the deployment of troops. [BBC] , [New York Times]
November 21
Over 4,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims arrive for a visit to religious sites in Pakistan. [Dawn],[Getty Images]
November 23
Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz travels to India for the first time as Chairperson of SAARC. [Dawn],[ Governance, Development and Conflict pg. 301]
December 14-15
Indian and Pakistani delegations hold expert level talks on Nuclear CBMs in Islamabad. Expert level talks on Conventional CBMs held on Dec 15th. [China Daily],[IPCS]
 
 
2003
January 1
 
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities.
[ MEA India ], [NTI]
May 26
India announces resumption of Delhi-Lahore bus service [ The Hindu ], [ Dawn ]
May 26
 India releases 70 Pakistani fishermen and 60 civilian prisoners. [ Dawn], [The Hindu]
 
September 25
Musharraf calls for a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) at the UN General Assembly in New York. [ SATP] ,[ United Nations ]
November 25
India and Pakistan implement a formal ceasefire along the International Border and the Actual Ground Position Line in Jammu and Kashmir at midnight.
 
2002
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities. [NTI], [MEA India ]
 
 
2001
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities. [NTI], [MEA India ]
August 11
India and Pakistan Foreign Secretaries meet at a SAARC Summit [BBC], [Rediff]
 
2000
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities.
 
 
1999
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities [MEA India ], [NTI]
 
February 2
Memorandum of understanding reached during Indian Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee’s historic visit to Pakistan. [MEA India] [Hindustan Times ]
 
February 20
Bus service between New Delhi and Lahore initiated by Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee. [MEA India ] [ New York Times ]
 
March 6
India and Pakistan exchange prisoners. [Indian Embassy D.C.] [IDSA]
March 19
India and Pakistan sign Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) [ World Bank ], [ SAARC ]
 
1998
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities [NTI], [MEA India ]
 
October 15
Foreign Secretary-level dialogue resumes between India and Pakistan [MOFA Japan], [Tribune India]
 
1997
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities.
[NTI] , [MEA India ]
 
 
1996
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities [MEA India ] [Federation of American Scientists ]
 
January 1
India grants Most Favored Nation status to Pakistan. [Washington Post ], [ Indian Express ]
 
 
1995
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities [MEA India] ,
 [NTI ]
 
 
1994
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities. [MEA India ],
 [ NTI ]
 
1993
January 4
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities. [MEA India], [NTI]
 
 
1992
January 1
India and Pakistan exchange lists of their respective nuclear installations and facilities under the 1988 agreement on Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities. [MEA India ], [ NTI ]
 
August 19
Joint Declaration on the Complete Prohibition of Chemical Weapons concluded in New Delhi. [NTI], [ Federation of American Scientists ]
 
 
 
1991
April 6
Agreement on Advance Notification on Military Exercises, Maneuvers and Troop Movements signed in New Delhi. [Governance, Development and Conflict, pg 299] [ United Nations ]
 
 
April 6
Agreement on Prevention of Airspace Violations and for Permitting Overflights and Landings by Military Aircraft signed in New Delhi. [Governance, Development and Conflict, pg 299], [ United Nations]
 
 
1988
December 31
Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities signed in Islamabad. [Federation of American Scientists ], [MEA India]

 

 

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