1972 Shimla Agreement
Published on 13 Oct 2025
In response to India’s decision to suspend the 1960 IWT, Pakistan’s government said it could hold the 1972 Simla Agreement in abeyance.
The agreement was signed in Shimla (1972) between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi & Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the aftermath of the 1971 Bangladesh War.
Bilateral Resolution of Disputes: The future of post-war ties between India and Pakistan and the resolution of the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir, where they agreed to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations.
Establishment of the Line of Control (LoC): The ceasefire line was formalised as the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Recognition of Bangladesh: It is also the first formal recognition of Bangladesh as a sovereign entity in a bilateral treaty.
Non-Use of Force: Both countries agreed to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other’s territorial integrity, aligning with the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Analysts suggest that if Pakistan attempts to cross the LoC, India could also then disregard the LoC and launch operations to claim parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
