Detailed Overview of All Agreements Between Pakistan and India

From the partition of British India in 1947 to the present day, Pakistan and India have engaged in numerous agreements to manage conflicts, share resources, and foster cooperation. Below is a detailed breakdown of key bilateral treaties, accords, and summits:

1. Indus Waters Treaty (1960)

• Date: September 19, 1960
• Parties: Pakistan, India, and the World Bank (as guarantor).
• Details:
  The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is viewed as a lifeline for Pakistan’s agriculture and economy, with 80% of its irrigated land dependent on the Indus river system. Pakistan accuses India of violating the treaty by constructing dams like Kishanganga and Ratle on western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), which are allocated to Pakistan under the treaty.
• Key Points:

- Divided control of six rivers in the Indus Basin:

1. Pakistan: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab (western rivers).
2. India: Ravi, Beas, Sutlej (eastern rivers).

- India allowed limited agricultural use of western rivers.

• Current Status: After the Pahalgam attack (April 2025), India unilaterally suspended the IWT violating international law, prompting Pakistan to declare this an "Act of War.

2. Simla Agreement (1972)

• Date: July 2, 1972
• Parties: Pakistani PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indian PM Indira Gandhi.
• Details:
  The Simla Agreement, which established the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and mandated bilateral dispute resolution, is seen as undermined by India’s unilateral actions. In 2025, Pakistan threatened to suspend the agreement in response to India’s unilaterally suspension of IWT.
• Key Points:
  • • Renamed the Kashmir ceasefire line as the Line of Control (LoC).
    • Committed both nations to resolve disputes bilaterally and peacefully.
    • Returned 93,000 Pakistani POWs captured in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
    • India’s 2019 revocation of Article 370 violated the Simla Agreement’s commitment to respecting Kashmir’s status.
    • India’s militarization of Kashmir and refusal to allow third-party mediation (e.g., UN or OIC) breaches the treaty’s spirit.
• Outcome: Basis for future diplomacy, but Kashmir remains unresolved.

3. Karachi Agreement (1949) and Kashmir Conflict

• Date: July 27, 1949
• Parties: Military representatives of Pakistan and India.
• Details:
  The Karachi Agreement established a ceasefire line in Kashmir, but India’s subsequent occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is labeled as "illegal" by Pakistan. Islamabad asserts that India has consistently violated UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite to determine Kashmir’s status.
• 2019 Revocation of Kashmir’s Special Status:
  India’s abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A in August 2019 stripped Kashmir of its autonomy, allowing non-Kashmiris to settle and altering its demographic balance. Pakistan condemns this as a violation of:
  • The UN Security Council Resolutions (1948–1971).
  • The Simla Agreement’s commitment to bilateral resolution.
  • Human rights, citing India’s communication blackouts, mass detentions, and suppression of dissent in Kashmir.
• Key Points:
  • Established a ceasefire line (CFL) in Jammu and Kashmir under UN supervision after the 1947–1948 Indo-Pak War.
  • Divided Kashmir into Pakistani-administered (Azad Kashmir) and Indian-administered territories.
• Outcome: Became the de facto border until the 1972 Simla Agreement redefined it as the Line of Control (LoC).

4. Lahore Declaration (1999)

• Date: February 21, 1999
• Parties: Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif and Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Details:
  The Lahore Declaration aimed to foster peace and nuclear risk reduction but collapsed after the Kargil War (1999), which Pakistan attributes to India’s refusal to address Kashmir’s core issues. Islamabad argues that India’s militaristic approach in Kashmir, including the 2019 revocation, has rendered the declaration obsolete.
• Key Points:
  • Pledged to reduce nuclear risks, enhance trade, and resolve Kashmir through dialogue.
  • Highlighted “peaceful coexistence” as a mutual goal.
• Outcome: Undermined by the Kargil War (1999) three months later.
• Current Status: Symbolic; no major progress achieved.

5. Non-Nuclear Aggression Agreement (1988)

• Date: December 31, 1988

• Details:
  While both nations pledged not to attack nuclear installations, Pakistan accuses India of escalating tensions through:
  • Surgical Strikes (2016, 2019) across the LoC.
  • Cold Start Doctrine, a military strategy perceived as threatening Pakistan’s sovereignty.
• Key Points:
  • Banned attacks on each other’s nuclear facilities.
  • Mandated annual exchange of facility lists.
• Outcome: One of the few agreements consistently honored.
• Current Status: Active; lists exchanged annually since 1992.

6. Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines (1974)

• Date: 1974
• Details:

Allowed pilgrims from both countries to visit religious sites (e.g., Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, Ajmer Sharif in India).

• Outcome: Facilitated cross-border pilgrimages despite political tensions.
• Current Status: Periodically suspended during crises (e.g., post-Pulwama 2019).

Analysis: Successes and Failures

India’s Missteps from Pakistan’s Viewpoint

Kashmir Occupation:

- India’s integration of Jammu and Kashmir into its union territories (2019) is deemed a breach of international law and bilateral agreements.

- Demographic changes through domicile laws are seen as "settler colonialism".

Human Rights Violations:

- Pakistan highlights India’s communication blackouts, arbitrary detentions (e.g., Kashmiri leaders like Farooq Abdullah), and military crackdowns in Kashmir since 2019.

Diplomatic Hypocrisy:

- India’s refusal to engage with Pakistan on Kashmir while demanding bilateralism under the Simla Agreement is labeled contradictory.

Support for Militancy:

- Pakistan accuses India of sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan, KPK and other parts of the country.

2025 Escalation: Pahalgam Attack and Fallout

Pakistan’s Response:

After India blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack (April 2025), Islamabad:

• Closed Pakistan Airspace for India-owned or Indian-operated airlines and closed the Wagah border.
• Halted trade and expelled Indian diplomats, framing India’s actions as "politically motivated".
• Warned that India’s suspension of the IWT threatens regional stability and constitutes an "Act of War".

Kashmir’s Plight:

Pakistan continues to demand international intervention, citing India’s "oppressive policies" in Kashmir, including restrictions on religious freedoms (e.g., Sikh pilgrims’ visas) and economic marginalization.

Conclusion: Pakistan’s Diplomatic Demands

Pakistan insists that:

1. India reverse its 2019 annexation of Kashmir and restore Article 370.
2. Third parties (UN/OIC) mediate the Kashmir dispute, bypassing India’s insistence on bilateralism.
3. India adhere to the IWT and halt dam projects on western rivers.

The future of India-Pakistan relations hinges on addressing these grievances, with Pakistan framing India’s actions as violations of sovereignty, international law, and human rights.