Pahalgam terror attack: Day after India puts IWT in abeyance, Pakistan ends Simla pact; what it could mean for the LoC
Pakistan suspended the Simla Agreement and all bilateral pacts with India after New Delhi's strong response to the Pahalgam terror attack. With airspace closed, borders shut, and trade suspended, diplomatic ties have hit a new low, risking further escalation
A day after India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad announced a major move. On Thursday, Pakistan suspended the Simla Agreement and all other bilateral arrangements with India. This includes halting trade, cancelling visas under the SAARC scheme, closing the Wagah border, and blocking airspace for Indian flights.
This decision came after India took several firm steps in response to the April 22 terrorist strike in Jammu and Kashmir¡¯s Baisaran Valley, which killed 26 people. India had expelled Pakistani military officials, stopped the Indus Water Treaty, and shut the Attari land-transit route.
What was the Simla Agreement?
The Simla Agreement was signed on July 2, 1972, between Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan¡¯s then President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. It was a direct result of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.
The agreement aimed to restore peace after the war. India, which held Pakistani prisoners of war and captured land, used the opportunity to push for a lasting peace. For Pakistan, it was a chance to recover lost ground both literally and diplomatically.
The core idea of the Simla pact was to resolve all future conflicts through bilateral talks. India had always used this agreement to push back against international intervention in the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan ends Simla pact after Pahalgam attack | Credit: X
Key principles that held the peace
The agreement listed several steps to build peace:No war, only dialogue: Both nations agreed to resolve disputes through talks, without involving other countries.
Respect for Sovereignty: Each side promised to respect the other¡¯s territory and stay out of internal matters.
No force: They vowed not to use force or threats to change borders or political status.
Limit propaganda: Both sides were to stop hostile messaging and promote goodwill.
Line of Control (LoC): The ceasefire line from the 1971 war was renamed as the LoC, to be respected by both sides.
Troop withdrawal: Both militaries were to pull back to their own sides of the international border.
The pact also included restarting trade, travel, and cultural ties¡ªsteps aimed at gradual normalization.
What happens now?
Pakistan¡¯s suspension of the Simla Agreement removes the last remaining diplomatic buffer between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. While the pact has seen ups and downs, it served as a base for dialogue and managing tensions. Its end signals a deeper breakdown in trust.
The LoC, created by the agreement, may now become even more volatile. There is also concern that Pakistan may try to internationalize the Kashmir issue again, something India has strongly opposed.
Without a framework like the Simla Agreement, the chances of accidental escalation rise, and peaceful dialogue becomes harder. With both countries standing firm, tensions are likely to remain high in the near future.
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Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
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