Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that the 1972 Simla Agreement, a key document between Pakistan and India, has lost its “sanctity” due to India’s unilateral actions. Asif pointed to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as one of the actions that undermined the agreement, which was intended to guide bilateral relations without third-party involvement.
The Simla Agreement was signed after the 1971 war between the two nations and established guidelines for managing the ceasefire line in Kashmir. Asif emphasized that in the absence of this bilateral treaty, the Line of Control (LoC) would effectively transform into a mere ceasefire line. His remarks followed India’s decision to unilaterally terminate the IWT, an act that escalated tensions and led to military clashes last month.
These hostilities were sparked by an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where 26 tourists were killed. India blamed Pakistan without providing evidence, leading to a large-scale military response from Pakistan. Dubbed “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes targeted multiple Indian military sites, downing six fighter jets, including three Rafales, and several drones. The conflict ended after 87 hours with a ceasefire brokered by the United States on May 10.
Asif stated that Pakistan had already warned that agreements between the two nations would lose significance if tensions continued. He further clarified that no party has the authority to unilaterally terminate the IWT or block the flow of water at will.
In response to India’s actions, Pakistan has taken a diplomatic approach to present its stance and push for international peace. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tasked former Foreign Minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with leading a diplomatic delegation to global capitals and the United Nations to counter India’s narrative. The delegation included key figures such as federal ministers Dr. Musadik Malik and Khurram Dastgir Khan, Senator Sherry Rehman, and former foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua.
