Today I am going back into history of modern India and covering one very important topic which has very much affected all the Indians, and its repercussions are felt even today.
Indians who are born in 40s or 50s will always remember Indo Pak war of 1971 and liberation of East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh. India won this war very convincingly and Pakistani army had to surrender to Indian army. Aftermath the war to resolve all the current issues at that time, head of both the Countries met in Simla in July 1972, the agreement which both the heads sign is known as SIMLA AGREEMENT. India side was led by then PM Indira Gandhi and Pakistani side by their PM ZA Bhutto.
To most of Indians Simla agreement was great let down. After winning the war and getting control of great amount of Pakistani territory and more than 90,000 Pakistani Prisoners of War (POW) with us, every one thought we are in better bargaining position, and for exchange of POWs , India would have asked for Kashmir issued to be resolved and taken control of complete Kashmir. Nothing of this sort happened, India under International pressure agreed to revert to Pre 1971 war position. The complete text of agreement is as follows, which is available on the web site of MEA.
The Govt of India and the Govt of Pakistan resolved that the two countries put an end to the conflict and confrontation that have hitherto marred their relations and work for the promotion of a friendly and harmonious relationship and the establishment of durable peace in the subcontinent so that both countries may henceforth devote their resources and energies to the pressing task of advancing the welfare of their people.
In order to achieve this objective, the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan have agreed as follows:
(i) That the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations shall govern the relations between the two countries.
(ii) That the two countries are resolved to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations or by any other peaceful means mutually agreed upon between them. Pending the final settlement of any of the problems between the two countries, neither side shall unilaterally alter the situation and both shall prevent the organization, assistance or encouragement of any acts detrimental to the maintenance of peace and harmonious relations.
(iii) That the prerequisite for reconciliation, good neighbourly relations and durable peace between them is a commitment by both the countries to peaceful coexistence respect for each others territorial integrity and sovereignty and noninterference in each others internal affairs, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. That the basic issues and causes of conflict which have bedeviled the relations between the two countries for the last 25 years shall be resolved by peaceful means.
(iv) That they shall always respect each others national unity, territorial integrity, political independence and sovereign equality.
(v) That in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, they will refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of each other.
Both governments will take all steps within their power to prevent hostile propaganda directed against each other. Both countries will encourage the dissemination of such information as would promote the development of friendly relations between them.
In order progressively to restore and normalize relations between the two countries step by step, it was agreed that:
(i) Steps shall be taken to resume communications, postal, telegraphic, sea, land, including border posts, and air links, including over flights.
(ii) Appropriate steps shall be taken to promote travel facilities for the nationals of the other country.
(iii) Trade and cooperation in economic and other agreed fields will be resumed as far as possible.
(iv) Exchange in the fields of science and culture will be promoted.
In this connection delegations from the two countries will meet from time to time to work out the necessary details.
In order to initiate the process of the establishment of durable peace, both the governments agree that:
(i) Indian and Pakistani forces shall be withdrawn to their side of the international border.
(ii) In Jammu & Kashmir, the line of control resulting from the ceasefire of December 17, 1971, shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognized position of either side. Neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterally, irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations. Both sides further undertake to refrain from the threat or the use of force in violation of this line.
(iii) The withdrawals shall commence upon entry into force of this agreement and shall be completed within a period of 30 days thereof.
This agreement will be subject to ratification by both countries in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures, and will come into force with effect from the date on which the instruments of ratification are exchanged.
Both governments agree that their respective heads will meet again at a mutually convenient time in the future and that in the meanwhile the representatives of the two sides will meet to discuss further the modalities and arrangements for the establishment of durable peace and normalization of relations, including the questions of repatriation of prisoners of war and civilian internees, a final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir and the resumption of diplomatic relations.
Friends, don’t you feel that this agreement was more favourable to Pakistan than to India. It seems that Indira Gandhi buckled under USA and USSR’s pressure, as at that time USA had a very soft corner for Pakistan, and they along with USSR were instrumental in happening of Simla agreement. Sameway even Lal Bahadur Shastri was pressurized in signing the Tashkent Agreement after the Indo Pak war of 1965 by USSR/USA. Indian Govt till date has not clarified why they had to give the territory back to Pakistan which originally belonged to India, and Indian team agreed to return more than 90,000 POW without getting any benefit in exchange. This type of agreement may not happen again , where a country after winning the war decisively ends up on losing side after the agreement both territorily and financially. You can imagine the cost of maintaining more than 90,000 POW for almost one year.
Indira Gandhi was hailed after the surrender of Pakistani army, and she was even compared with Goddess Durga. But Simla agreement was really let down, for people of India, as everbody was thinking with more than 90,000 POW and 1000s of Square Kilometers territory of Pakistan under our control, and India ends up signing this Simla agreement.
Awaiting for your views/feed backs/comments on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
31st Oct 2018.
Bobby
There was tremendous international pressure during the war and India even expected the US under Nixon to intervene since the 5th fleet or 7th started sailing towards the Bay of Bengal. But they didn’t and obviously India knew that they couldn’t stretch it further and had to concede a military advantage when they signed the Shimla Agreement.
It is easy to see history only in the light of a small parameter but we have to understand that a lot of decisions those days were taken by the two super powers of the US and the Soviet Union. Today it’s a little easier today!
Anil Malik Post author
Bobby I was trying to say what was general public’s perception at that time. When this happen , I was 22 years old and studying in Engineering, without much knowledge of world’s politics. And what was my and my other hostel inmates feeling that we have conceded our advantage. Now as a matured person, we understand the world’s politics at this stage, but the reaction of general semi literate public was same – that even after winning the war we gained nothing.
C G Hegde
All that was gained by the sacrifices of Indian forces was lost on the meeting table. It was clearly a Charity for Bangladesh and then facing enough problem of migrants ever since