The Simla Agreement: A Legacy of Peace and Controversy

DIPAK KURMI

On April 24, 2025, Pakistan made a decisive move, announcing the suspension of all bilateral agreements with India, including the historic Simla Agreement.The statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) emphasized that the suspension would remain in effect until India ceased its alleged role in fomenting terrorism within Pakistan, transnational killings, and disregarding international law and United Nations (UN) Resolutions on Kashmir. This move has reignited debates surrounding the Simla Agreement, signed over five decades ago in 1972, and its lasting implications on India-Pakistan relations. Despite its initial promise of peace, the Simla Agreement has remained a subject of both praise and controversy, its legacy clouded by differing interpretations, particularly on the Kashmir issue.

The Simla Agreement was signed on July 2, 1972, by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the Indian hill station of Simla. The accord emerged in the aftermath of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. The war had left deep scars on the relationship between the two countries, and the Simla Agreement sought to address these wounds, providing a framework for peace and the resolution of contentious issues. One of the primary goals of the accord was to move beyond conflict and confrontation, paving the way for diplomatic engagement and improved relations between the two neighbors.

At the core of the Simla Agreement were several key principles aimed at fostering peace and stability in the region. Firstly, both India and Pakistan committed to resolving their differences through bilateral negotiations, avoiding third-party involvement. The agreement emphasized the importance of maintaining peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, focusing on issues of territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. The declaration of peaceful intentions was designed to lay the foundation for a friendly and harmonious relationship, ending decades of hostility.

Perhaps the most crucial aspect of the Simla Agreement was its approach to the Kashmir dispute, a long-standing point of contention between the two nations. The agreement reaffirmed the Line of Control (LoC) established after the ceasefire of December 17, 1971, and explicitly stated that neither India nor Pakistan would alter the LoC unilaterally. Both sides pledged to respect the LoC, which had become a de facto boundary between the Indian and Pakistani-administered parts of Kashmir. The agreement stipulated that any changes to the status quo would only be made through mutual consent and that the LoC would remain inviolate, irrespective of the differing legal interpretations of the Kashmir issue.

In addition to addressing the Kashmir conflict, the Simla Agreement called for military withdrawals. Indian and Pakistani forces were to pull back to their respective sides of the border within 30 days of the agreement’s ratification. This step was seen as a crucial measure to reduce tensions and avoid the possibility of further military confrontations. The accord also outlined measures to normalize relations, such as the resumption of communication links, the promotion of trade, and the facilitation of travel between the two nations.

Moreover, the Simla Agreement provided a framework for future peace talks, acknowledging that many issues remained unresolved and would require continued dialogue. These included the repatriation of prisoners of war, the final settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and the restoration of diplomatic relations. The agreement envisaged future meetings between the heads of state and other officials to address these issues in a peaceful and constructive manner.

While the Simla Agreement laid the groundwork for a potential rapprochement, its legacy has been anything but straightforward. From its inception, the accord was viewed through different lenses by India and Pakistan, with each side interpreting its provisions to suit its national interests. The agreement’s historical and diplomatic significance is undeniable, yet its implementation has been fraught with challenges.

The Simla Agreement marked a critical turning point in the Kashmir issue by explicitly declaring it a bilateral matter, removing the possibility of third-party mediation. India, which had long considered Kashmir to be an internal issue, welcomed this clause, viewing it as a diplomatic victory. The agreement solidified India's stance that no foreign power, including the United Nations, would have a say in the dispute. This exclusion of international actors has remained a central theme in India’s foreign policy regarding Kashmir.

For Pakistan, however, the Simla Agreement has been a source of frustration. While the accord recognized the LoC as the practical boundary, Pakistan has consistently sought international intervention to resolve the Kashmir dispute. After India’s controversial revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, Pakistan called on the United Nations to intervene, invoking the Simla Agreement as the basis for its request. India, however, maintains that the agreement explicitly rejects third-party involvement, seeing Pakistan’s calls for UN intervention as a violation of the accord’s terms.

The debate over the Simla Agreement has been further complicated by India’s interpretation of its provisions. In recent years, Indian officials, including Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, have criticized the agreement for not adequately reflecting India’s victory in the 1971 war. Some analysts argue that India missed an opportunity to press its advantage more assertively, especially in light of its military triumph and the creation of Bangladesh. The perceived imbalance in the treaty’s terms has led to dissatisfaction in some quarters, despite the overall intention to promote peace.

Another critical factor in the enduring tensions between the two countries is the role of military interests. In both India and Pakistan, the military has been a significant player in shaping foreign policy, and its influence has often undermined efforts to achieve lasting peace. The Pakistan military, in particular, has been accused of perpetuating a “revanchist” attitude toward India, hindering progress toward reconciliation. This military influence has fueled an environment of distrust, making it difficult to move beyond the shadow of past conflicts.

Despite these controversies and criticisms, some experts believe that the Simla Agreement, with all its imperfections, played a vital role in preventing a full-scale war between India and Pakistan. Its emphasis on bilateral dialogue and peaceful coexistence helped reduce hostilities, especially in the aftermath of the 1971 war, which had left both nations deeply scarred. In this sense, the agreement can be seen as a stepping stone toward normalizing relations, even if it did not fully resolve the Kashmir issue or eliminate the underlying tensions.

In retrospect, the Simla Agreement represents a crucial moment in the history of India-Pakistan relations. While it succeeded in establishing a framework for peace, the unresolved Kashmir dispute and differing interpretations of the treaty have kept the region in a state of tension. The recent suspension of bilateral agreements by Pakistan only serves to remind the world of the fragile nature of the peace established by the Simla Accord. The Kashmir issue continues to be a flashpoint in South Asia, and the road to lasting peace remains elusive.

The Simla Agreement, despite its flaws, remains one of the most significant diplomatic efforts between India and Pakistan. It succeeded in laying the foundation for peace and establishing a framework for future negotiations. However, its failure to fully address the Kashmir dispute and its controversial interpretation by both sides have left an indelible mark on the diplomatic history of the region. As tensions persist and new challenges arise, the legacy of the Simla Agreement will continue to shape the future of India-Pakistan relations.

(Views are personal. Email:  dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)