Pakistan’s withdrawal from Simla Agreement removes hurdles for India to take over PoK

New Delhi – Pakistan has suspended bilateral relations with India after India’s five strict decisions against Pakistan. In response, Pakistan has announced that it would treat all bilateral agreements with India including the pivotal Simla Agreement as being in abeyance. Under the 1972 Simla Agreement the cease-fire line was converted into the Line of Control LoC) between India and Pakistan and it was agreed that ‘neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterally, irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations.’ With the suspension of this Agreement, the actual LoC doesn’t exist now and Pak-occupied Kashmir (POK) can be directly connected and under control of India. After suspension of this Agreement, taking over PoK will not result in any breach of law.

India-Pakistan LoC was never followed by Pakistan. Pakistan attacked India at Kargil by crossing the border; but India didn’t cross the LOC.

India had released 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war under the Simla Agreement and stipulated a few conditions. Pakistan had softened at that time and had Indira Gandhi put pressure on the issue of PoK, Pakistan had no other option but to accede. That, however, did not happen; therefore, despite winning, Indians felt like losing the war.

The agreement to give prior information of conducting nuclear tests also negated

Another important thing that has taken place due to Pakistan’s decision is that the Agreement requiring both countries to provide each other advance notification of flight tests that it intends to undertake of any surface-to-surface ballistic missile has also been suspended.