A comprehensive overview on Total agreements between Pakistan and IndiaÂ
The Complex Tapestry of India-Pakistan Agreements
Since the partition of British India in 1947, India and Pakistan have experienced a complex and often tumultuous relationship characterised by wars, territorial disputes, and diplomatic initiatives aimed at fostering peace. Despite their fraught history, both nations have managed to establish several bilateral agreements designed to address conflicts, manage shared resources, and promote stability in the South Asian region. These pacts include significant measures like the Shimla Agreement, the Indus Waters Treaty for water-sharing, and confidence-building frameworks such as the Non-Attack Agreement regarding nuclear facilities.
However, as of April 25, 2025, the dynamics of these agreements have shifted dramatically. Pakistan has suspended all bilateral pacts, including the Shimla Agreement, as a reaction to India’s actions following the recent Pahalgam attack.
Historical Context of India-Pakistan Relations:
The partition of British India in 1947 created India and Pakistan, sparking immediate tensions over territorial boundaries, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. The ensuing Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48 set the stage for a series of conflicts, including wars in 1965, 1971, and the Kargil conflict in 1999. These conflicts, coupled with cross-border terrorism and nuclear arms races (India in 1974, Pakistan in 1998), have shaped a complex relationship.
To mitigate hostilities, India and Pakistan have signed multiple agreements, often brokered by external parties like the United Nations or the World Bank. These treaties address critical issues such as ceasefire lines, water distribution, minority rights, and nuclear safety. However, violations—such as Pakistan’s incursion during the Kargil War—have frequently undermined these efforts, leading to a fragile trust.
List of Bilateral Agreements Between India and Pakistan
1. Karachi Agreement (1949)
- Signed: January 1949
- Purpose: Established a ceasefire line (CFL) in Jammu and Kashmir after the 1947-48 war, monitored by UN observers.
- Significance: Provided a temporary resolution to the first Kashmir conflict, setting guidelines for troop conduct along the CFL, later replaced by the Line of Control (LoC) under the Shimla Agreement.
- Status: Superseded by the Shimla Agreement but remains a historical reference for LoC conduct.
2. Liaquat-Nehru Pact (Delhi Agreement) (1950)
- Signed: April 8, 1950
- Signatories: Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Liaquat Ali Khan (Pakistan)
- Purpose: Protected minority rights in both countries post-partition, addressing communal violence and refugee crises.
- Significance: Ensured accountability for minority treatment, mandated the return of abducted women and looted property, and aimed to prevent further war.
- Status: Active, though enforcement has been inconsistent.Â
3. Indus Waters Treaty (1960)
- Signed: September 19, 1960
- Signatories: Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Ayub Khan (Pakistan)
- Purpose: Allocated waters of the Indus River system, giving India control over eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) and Pakistan over western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab).
- Significance: Brokered by the World Bank, it is one of the most successful water-sharing treaties globally, surviving three wars. It funded dams like Tarbela and Mangla.
4. Agreement on Procedures to End Disputes Along Indo-West Pakistan Border Areas (1960)
- Signed: January 11, 1960
- Purpose: Established procedures to resolve border disputes and incidents peacefully.
- Significance: Aimed to reduce border skirmishes, though its impact was limited due to ongoing tensions.
- Status: Suspended as part of Pakistan’s April 2025 decision.Â
5. Tashkent Declaration (1966)
- Signed: January 10, 1966
- Signatories: Lal Bahadur Shastri (India), Muhammad Ayub Khan (Pakistan)
- Purpose: Ended the 1965 war, restoring pre-war positions and diplomatic relations.
- Significance: Mediated by the Soviet Union, it promoted peace and adherence to the UN Charter.
- Status: Suspended in 2025, though its relevance had diminished over time.Â
6. Shimla Agreement (1972)
- Signed: July 2, 1972
- Signatories: Indira Gandhi (India), Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Pakistan)
- Purpose: Established the Line of Control (LoC) post-1971 war, committed to bilateral dispute resolution, and normalized relations.
- Significance: A cornerstone of India-Pakistan diplomacy, it facilitated Bangladesh’s recognition and prisoner repatriation. Pakistan argues India violated it in 2019 by revoking Article 370.
- Status: Suspended by Pakistan on April 24, 2025, risking LoC destabilization.
7. Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines (1974)
- Signed: September 1974
- Purpose: Facilitated pilgrimages to religious shrines, allowing Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim pilgrims to visit designated sites in both countries.
- Significance: Enabled visa-free travel for specific pilgrimages, such as to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (added in 2019).
- Status: Suspended in 2025, with India issuing limited visas earlier in the year.Â
8. Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities (Non-Attack Agreement) (1988)
- Signed: December 31, 1988
- Purpose: Prohibited attacks on nuclear facilities, requiring annual exchanges of facility coordinates.
- Significance: A key confidence-building measure between nuclear-armed states, effective since 1991.
- Status: Suspended in 2025, raising nuclear safety concerns.Â
9. India-Pakistan Agreement on Chemical Weapons (1992)
- Signed: 1992
- Purpose: Prohibited the development, possession, or use of chemical weapons, committing both nations to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
- Significance: India ratified the CWC in 1996, Pakistan in 1997, though India’s declaration of munitions caused controversy.
- Status: Suspended in 2025, though CWC obligations remain.Â
10. Lahore Pact (1999)
- Signed: February 21, 1999
- Signatories: Atal Bihari Vajpayee (India), Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan)
- Purpose: De-escalated nuclear tensions post-1998 tests, promoting peace and stability.
- Significance: Followed Vajpayee’s historic bus trip to Lahore, but was undermined by the Kargil War.
- Status: Suspended in 2025, with limited impact due to prior violations.Â
11. Agreement on Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons (2007)
- Signed: February 21, 2007
- Purpose: Enhanced communication to reduce nuclear accident risks, part of confidence-building measures.
- Significance: Strengthened strategic stability amid nuclear advancements.
- Status: Suspended in 2025, increasing nuclear risks.
Additional Protocols and MoUs
Several smaller agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have complemented these treaties, including:
- Trade Agreement (1949): Facilitated mutual trade in commodities like cotton and chemicals.
- Bilateral Cooperation in Standardization and Conformity Assessment: Promoted technical cooperation.Â
- MoU on Drug Demand Reduction and Illicit Trafficking: Addressed narcotic trafficking.
- MoU for Communication Link Between Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency: Enhanced maritime coordination.
- Agreement on Release and Repatriation of Detained Persons (Pre-1971): Addressed humanitarian concerns.
- Protocol on Shipping Services: Facilitated maritime trade.Â
- Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Agreement (2019): Allowed visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.
Recent Developments: Suspension of Agreements in 2025
On April 22, 2025, a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 people, prompting India to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, close the Attari-Wagah border, cancel Pakistani visas, and reduce diplomatic ties. In retaliation, Pakistan suspended all bilateral agreements, including the Shimla Agreement, on April 24, 2025, closing the Wagah border, halting trade, and shutting airspace to Indian airlines.
This escalation has profound implications:
- LoC Destabilization: The Shimla Agreement’s suspension may render the LoC non-binding, potentially allowing India to cross it without treaty violations.
- Water Security: The Indus Waters Treaty’s suspension threatens Pakistan’s agriculture, reliant on western rivers.
- Nuclear Risks: Suspending nuclear-related agreements increases the risk of miscalculations.
- Diplomatic Fallout: The collapse of bilateral frameworks complicates future negotiations, with India likely to raise issues like Pakistan-occupied Kashmir globally.
