Context:
Pakistan announced the suspension of the Simla Agreement after India puts Indus Waters Treaty on hold
Simla Agreement (1972):
- Signed on 2nd July 1972 between India (PM Indira Gandhi) and Pakistan (President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto).
- A direct outcome of the 1971 Indo-Pak War, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.
- The agreement aimed to restore peace and normalize relations between India and Pakistan after the war.
- Key Objectives –
- Establish peaceful relations between India and Pakistan.
- Resolve bilateral issues through negotiations, avoiding third-party intervention.
- Define the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir, ensuring mutual respect for territorial integrity.
- Facilitate the withdrawal of forces to pre-war positions.
- Pakistan has violated the agreement multiple times, especially in Kargil (1999) and cross-border terrorism
Major Provisions:
- Respect for Sovereignty – Both nations agreed to respect each other’s territorial integrity and avoid interference in internal affairs.
- Peaceful Resolution – All disputes, including Kashmir, were to be resolved bilaterally through peaceful means.
- Line of Control (LoC) – The ceasefire line from the 1971 war was redefined as the LoC, with both sides agreeing not to alter it unilaterally.
- Military Withdrawal – Both countries agreed to withdraw troops to their respective sides of the international border.
- Diplomatic Engagement – Future meetings between leaders were planned to strengthen bilateral ties and normalize relations.
Source: ET
Previous Year Question
The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) solve the problem of minorities in India
(b) give effect to the Independence Bill
(c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan
(d) enquire into the riots in East Bengal
Answer: (c)