Dubai: Pakistan on Thursday formally announced the suspension of the 1972 Simla Agreement, a landmark peace treaty that had long guided the framework of diplomatic and territorial relations between India and Pakistan after the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
The Simla Agreement, signed following the war, served as a peace treaty between India and Pakistan. A significant outcome of this agreement was the establishment of the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir, effectively dividing the region between the two nations.
The agreement, signed in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, was a pivotal moment in India-Pakistan relations.
What is the Simla Agreement?
The Simla Agreement was a peace treaty signed on 2 July 1972, following the India-Pakistan War of 1971. This war was triggered when India intervened in East Pakistan’s fight for independence, which led to the formation of Bangladesh.
The Indian intervention was decisive in the war, and the resulting victory led to the breakaway of East Pakistan from West Pakistan, creating the new nation of Bangladesh.
Peaceful Resolution of Disputes: Both countries committed to settling differences through peaceful negotiations. This was particularly relevant for the Kashmir dispute, as India insisted that the issue be addressed bilaterally, as per the Simla Agreement.
Land Reclamation: Under the treaty, India returned over 13,000km² of land it had seized during the war. However, India retained a few strategic areas, such as Turtuk, Dhothang, Tyakshi, and Chalunka in the Chorbat Valley, which amounted to over 883 km².
Diplomatic Recognition of Bangladesh: The agreement also paved the way for Pakistan’s diplomatic recognition of Bangladesh, which was a significant step following the creation of the new nation.
Earlier on Wednesday, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had taken a series of measures against Pakistan
These included five key decisions: The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect; The integrated checkpost Attari will be closed with immediate effect; Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme; Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared persona non grata. They have a week to leave India and India will withdraw its Defence, Navy, and Air advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled.
The article appeared in the gulfnews