Relations between Pakistan and India, since the 1947 Partition, have been characterized by a fluctuating trajectory. From periods of bilateral cooperation to instances of escalating conflict, both nations have experienced ebbs and flows across various domains, including diplomacy, culture, politics, and trade. Given the contentious nature of their relationship, bilateral deals and agreements have also followed a similar pattern of volatility.
Following the recent tragic attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, a picturesque valley situated in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, the central government in New Delhi swiftly issued accusations implicating Pakistan in the violence, despite the absence of any concrete evidence. In conjunction with several other reactive measures, the Indian government proceeded to suspend the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty.
In response, Pakistan has also cautioned India about the potential suspension of all bilateral deals and agreements, with particular emphasis on the Shimla Agreement. Islamabad has since announced the closure of the Wagah border and the suspension of all trade activities with its eastern neighbor, among other retaliatory actions.
Against the backdrop of these recent developments in India-Pakistan relations, Geo.tv examines some of the significant agreements that have been signed between the two countries since 1947.
The Nehru-Liaquat Agreement of 1950
In April 1950, Pakistani Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru, his Indian counterpart, reached a consensus during a meeting in New Delhi, the Indian capital, to safeguard the rights and interests of minority communities within their respective nations. According to the agreement, both governments were to be mutually accountable for ensuring the protection of these minorities. Key provisions included a guarantee of equal employment opportunities without discrimination, freedom of movement, and the establishment of a commission for minorities to monitor the implementation of the pact. This agreement was forged in the aftermath of Partition, a period marked by horrific violence on both sides of the border that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
The Indus Waters Treaty
Facilitated by the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty was signed by India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960. This treaty delineated the rights and responsibilities of both countries concerning the utilization of the Indus River system that flows through their territories. The agreement was the culmination of six years of negotiations and was officially signed by Pakistan’s then-President Ayub Khan and India’s Prime Minister Nehru.
Under the terms of the treaty, Pakistan was granted control over the waters of the western rivers – the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – while India retained its rights over the eastern rivers – the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Provisions related to the development of water infrastructure, such as canals, barrages, dams, and tube wells, were also integral to the treaty, which included the construction of the Mangla and Tarbela dams. Furthermore, it mandated the creation of a Permanent Indus Commission, comprising one representative commissioner from each country, to ensure cooperation and facilitate the resolution of potential disputes.
The treaty remained in effect for nearly 65 years until India’s recent decision to suspend it.
The Shimla Agreement
During the era of Ayub Khan, the Shimla Agreement was signed between Pakistan and India, with the historic signing ceremony attended by former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Shimla Agreement, also known as the Shimla Accord, committed both countries to refrain from any unilateral actions against each other, ensuring that all conflicts would be resolved through bilateral dialogue. Following the agreement, the existing ceasefire line was redesignated as the Line of Control (LoC).
The agreement also addressed the Kashmir issue, emphasizing that “the basic issues and causes of conflict which have bedevilled the relations between the two countries for the last 25 years shall be resolved by peaceful means.” It also expressed a commitment to engage in dialogue to ensure lasting peace and the normalization of relations.
Religious Visits Agreement
In 1974, Pakistan and India reached an agreement on a protocol to facilitate religious pilgrimages between the two countries, allowing devotees from each nation to visit religious and sacred sites in the other. As per the agreement, 15 sites in Pakistan and five in India were opened to pilgrims as of 2018.
The sites in Pakistan include Sindh’s Shadani Darbar in Hyat Pitafi, Chakwal’s Katasraj Dham, the Gurudwara Panja Sahib, and the Gurudwaras of Nankana Sahib. Prominent religious destinations in India include Nizamuddin Dargah, the tomb of Amir Khusro, and Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities
On December 13, 1988, the neighboring countries signed an agreement that required both India and Pakistan to annually exchange information about each other’s nuclear facilities and installations on January 1. It also obligated both nations to abstain from any direct or indirect actions against one another that could lead to damage or destruction of their nuclear assets. Officially, according to the Foreign Office, the pact came into effect on January 22, 1991.
Agreement on Prevention of Airspace Violations
This deal was signed in New Delhi by the two nations on April 6, 1991, and was aimed at minimizing the risk of airspace violations, whether unintentional or accidental. Utilizing specific guidelines for military aircraft, it stipulated maintaining a 10-kilometer distance from each other’s air territories, including those within the Air Defence Identification Zone.
It also ensured that no aircraft would enter each other’s airspace above their respective territorial waters without prior authorization.
The Lahore Declaration
The Lahore Declaration was agreed upon in February 1999 when former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan and formalized the agreement with his counterpart Nawaz Sharif. The agreement aimed to establish an environment of security and peace in the mutual interest of both countries. It also acknowledged the need for the resolution of outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute. The two nations pledged to intensify efforts to address all issues through comprehensive and focused negotiations.
However, this process faced a setback during the Kargil War later that year but resumed in 2004 during the tenure of former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf.
Agreement on Prior Notification of Ballistic Missile Flight Tests
In 2005, the two countries signed an agreement binding each other to provide at least three days’ notice before conducting a flight test of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles on land or sea. It also specified that the launch location of these missiles should not be closer than 40 kilometers from the Line of Control or the International Boundary. Additionally, the intended impact zone of the missile should not be closer than 75 kilometers from these borders for both sides conducting the tests.
Agreement on Reducing Risks of Accidents Related to Nuclear Weapons
An agreement aimed at reducing the risks of accidents related to nuclear weapons came into effect on February 21, 2007, with an initial duration of five years. Under this deal, both Pakistan and India committed to enhancing the safety and security of their nuclear assets, notifying each other in the event of a nuclear accident, and taking measures to mitigate the radiological effects of such incidents. The agreement was subsequently extended for another five-year period in both 2012 and 2017.
LoC Ceasefire Agreement
In November 2003, the two rival nations signed an agreement to ensure a ceasefire along the Working Boundary and the Line of Control (LoC). The former demarcates the international border between the two countries, while the latter serves as the de facto border separating Indian-occupied Kashmir from Pakistan.
However, frequent violations were recorded starting in 2008 after several years of relative calm. Following the ascent of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, the number of violations notably increased. In 2021, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to the agreement to maintain the ceasefire.
