Simla Agreement 1972: Key points and exit implications

In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the 1972 Simla Agreement is once again in the spotlight — more than fifty years after it was signed.

Born out of the ashes of the 1971 war, the agreement marked a rare moment of diplomatic clarity between India and Pakistan.

In the Himalayan town of Simla that July, both nations met not only to formalise a ceasefire but to reshape the contours of future engagement

Backdrop 

The 1971 Indo-Pak war had ended in the secession of East Pakistan, which then became the independent state of Bangladesh. More than 90,000 Pakistani troops were taken as Prisoners of War (PoWs). 

It was in this context that India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan's President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto — met in Simla. Bhutto, charismatic yet burdened by defeat, sought a face-saving deal. Gandhi, politically confident, sought a durable peace.

Key features of the agreement

The Simla Agreement outlined several core principles:

• Bilateral Resolution of Disputes
  Both countries agreed that future disputes — including Kashmir — would be resolved peacefully and bilaterally, without third-party intervention.

• Respect for the Line of Control (LoC)
  The agreement converted the ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir into the Line of Control (LoC) and committed both sides to respect it without attempting to alter it unilaterally.

• Commitment to Peaceful Relations
  Both sides agreed to refrain from the threat or use of force and to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

• Return of Prisoners and Troops
  India agreed to release over 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war, while Pakistan accepted the return of territory captured during the war.

• Steps Toward Normalisation
  The agreement encouraged both governments to take steps to restore communications, economic ties, and diplomatic relations, disrupted during conflict.

Shifting ground in diplomacy

Analysts argue that the Simla Agreement subtly but significantly changed the dynamics of Indo-Pak relations. 

Challenges and limitations

Despite its intent to establish a foundation for long-term peace, the Simla Agreement has faced several challenges over the decades.

• Kashmir Dispute Remains Unresolved
  The agreement framed the resolution of outstanding issues, including Kashmir, within a bilateral framework. However, this approach has seen limited progress and has excluded third-party mediation, which some observers argue has constrained potential diplomatic avenues.

• Recurring Violations
  Both India and Pakistan have, at times, acted in ways that contradict the spirit of the agreement. These include cross-border incidents, military engagements along the Line of Control, and periodic diplomatic downgrades.

• Lack of Enforcement Mechanism
  The Simla Agreement does not include a formal structure to enforce compliance. As a result, breaches typically result in political criticism rather than concrete consequences or resolutions.

Impact of ending deal 

If the agreement is formally suspended or canceled, it could undermine India's bilateral-only position and reopen the door for international involvement. Here's how:

• Diplomatic Leverage: Without the agreement binding both countries to private dialogue, Pakistan can argue that India has left no viable bilateral channel — thus justifying the need to bring in neutral mediators or international bodies.

• UN Resolutions Reinvoked: Pakistan could return to pre-1972 UN Security Council resolutions, especially the call for a plebiscite in Kashmir, which have been largely shelved under the bilateral understanding of Simla.

• Global Advocacy: It gives Pakistan room to internationalise the conflict in public and diplomatic campaigns, appealing to allies, rights groups, and foreign parliaments with stronger moral or legal weight.