Simla Agreement 1972

News– After the recent escalation with India following the Pahalgam incident, Pakistan put the Simla Agreement on hold.

About Simla Agreement 1972

• It is a bilateral peace treaty signed on July 2, 1972, between India and Pakistan, in the aftermath of the 1971 India-Pakistan War.
• The agreement was signed in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan’s President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
• It came into force on August 4, 1972, after being ratified by both countries.

Objectives of the agreement- The agreement aimed:

• • To end hostilities and confrontation.
  • To work towards friendly and harmonious relations.
  • To establish durable peace in the subcontinent.

Key Provisions of the Simla Agreement

• Peaceful bilateral resolution: Both nations committed to resolving disputes through bilateral negotiations, without involving third-party mediation — a clause India has consistently emphasized, especially in opposing international interference in the Kashmir issue.
• Line of Control (LoC): The agreement converted the 1971 ceasefire line into the Line of Control (LoC), effectively establishing a de facto border in Jammu and Kashmir. It emphasized that neither side would seek to unilaterally alter this line, thereby reinforcing the status quo.
• Return of territory: India returned over 13,000 km² of territory captured during the war, demonstrating goodwill and commitment to peace. However, it retained strategic zones such as Turtuk and Chalunka in the Chorbat Valley.
• Recognition of Bangladesh: Though not immediate, the agreement laid the groundwork for Pakistan’s eventual diplomatic recognition of Bangladesh.