Continuing a practice spanning more than three decades, India and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged lists of their nuclear installations under a bilateral agreement that bars either country from attacking the other's atomic facilities.

The exchange took place despite ties between the two nations remaining deeply strained following four days of military hostilities last May.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the list swap was carried out under the provisions of the agreement on the prohibition of attacks against nuclear installations and facilities. The exchange occurred simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad.

"India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels, simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities, covered under the agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities between India and Pakistan," the MEA said.

The pact was signed on December 31, 1988, and came into force on January 27, 1991. It requires both countries to notify each other of nuclear installations and facilities covered under the agreement on the first day of each calendar year.

"This is the 35th consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on 1 January 1992," the MEA added in a brief statement.