1971 Indo-Pakistani war and Simla Agreement

Main articles: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Simla Agreement

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 led to a loss for Pakistan and a military surrender in East
Pakistan. Bangladesh got created as a separate state with India's support and India emerged as a
clear regional power in South Asia.[83]
A bilateral summit was held at Simla as a follow-up to the war, where India pushed for peace in
South Asia.[84][85] At stake were 5,139 square miles of Pakistan's territory captured by India during the
conflict, and over 90,000 prisoners of war held in Bangladesh. India was ready to return them in
exchange for a "durable solution" to the Kashmir issue. Diplomat J. N. Dixit states that the
negotiations at Simla were painful and tortuous, and almost broke down. The deadlock was broken
in a personal meeting between the Prime Ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indira Gandhi, where
Bhutto acknowledged that the Kashmir issue should be finally resolved and removed as a hurdle in
India-Pakistan relations; that the cease-fire line, to be renamed the Line of Control, could be
gradually converted into a de jure border between India and Pakistan; and that he would take steps
to integrate the Pakistani-controlled portions of Jammu and Kashmir into the federal territories of
Pakistan.[84] However, he requested that the formal declaration of the Agreement should not include a
final settlement of the Kashmir dispute as it would endanger his fledgling civilian government and
bring in military and other hardline elements into power in Pakistan. [84][86][87][85]
Accordingly, the Simla Agreement was formulated and signed by the two countries, whereby the
countries resolved to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations and to
maintain the sanctity of the Line of Control. Multilateral negotiations were not ruled out, but they
were conditional upon both sides agreeing to them. [88]:4950To India, this meant an end to the UN or
other multilateral negotiations. However Pakistan reinterpreted the wording in the light of a reference
to the "UN charter" in the agreement, and maintained that it could still approach the UN. The United
States, United Kingdom and most Western governments agree with India's interpretation. [89][90][91][88][92][93]
The Simla Agreement also stated that the two sides would meet again for establishing durable
peace. Reportedly Bhutto asked for time to prepare the people of Pakistan and the National
Assembly for a final settlement. Indian commentators state that he reneged on the promise. Bhutto
told the National Assembly on 14 July that he forged an equal agreement from an unequal beginning
and that he did not compromise on the right of self-determination for Jammu and Kashmir. The
envisioned meeting never occurred.[