1971 War and Shimla

Agreement
Precursor to War
• Language controversy 1948- Quiad-e-Azam declared Urdu as an only national
language in Dhaka.
• Sense of lack of participation in East Pakistan due to few Bengali administrators.
• 1954 provincial elections in which United Front won 223 seats out of 237 seats.
• Sense of abonnement in East Pakistan during 1965 war “defence of East Pakistan
lies in West Pakistan.”
• Six Point Formula in 1966 calling for maximum autonomy. It allocated federal
government defence and foreign affairs.
• Agarthala Conspiracy Case 1969 arrest of 28 people including low ranking military
and naval officers. Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman was also named in it.
• Cyclone of East Pakistan drowning quarter of a million people.
• 1970 elections and Awami league victory in East Pakistan 167/169 313
• Ganga Airplane incident and close down of Indian air space.
Countdown to Conflict
• In March 1971 Yahya Khan ordered a military crack down in East
Pakistan which caused a steep decline in the situation.
• Tajjudin Ahmed of Awami League was moved to Calcutta to declare
independence and Establish a provisional government.
• A rebel force of a 100,000 called Mukti Bahini was created to fight
guerilla war.
• Refugee crisis as a result of military breakdown in East Pakistan $350
million aid for refugee by the US.
• India refused a political solution.
• India and USSR signed Indo-USSR Friendship Treaty which pledge
them to consult with each other in case of attack. Treaty meant to
keep China in check.
• Yahya Khan and military were operating on its own without informing
government while providing diplomatic bridge to china and the US.
• Yahya Khan did offered to grant full autonomy to East Pakistan and unilateral
withdrawal of armed forces to avoid conflict.
• India was not prepared for political solution rather looking into the option of
war.
• Indra Gandhi toured the US on 4-5 November 1971assured Nixon of no conflict.
Nixon later stated that he was deceived by Indra Gandhi.
• India started offence from 22nd without formally declaring war.
• From 21-25 November Indian troops carried out small scale operations to help
Mukti Bahini to occupy territory.
• Pakistan invoked 1959 agreement and asked the US for help but US was not
bound to respond under agreement.
• Yahya Khan retaliated from West Pakistan which opened war over there as well.
• On 4th December UNSC passed a resolution for ceasefire, return of troops to pre-
war position and return of refugees.
• China supported Pakistan
• India was going for total elimination of Pakistan.
• US intervened to warn against such course. Also started pressurizing USSR to
push India to stop War.
• On 9th December US send a task force of 8 ships and aircraft carrier Enterprise
from Pacific to Bay of Bengal.
• This war could have broader repercussions in case of US-USSR confrontation
• Poland moved a resolution at UNSC called for immediate transfer of power to the
elected representative in East Pakistan and withdrawal of troops.
• Under mounting US Pressure India agreed to ceasefire on 16th December 1971.
• Pakistan suffered disaster country was divided into two.
• After Bhutto became the president he visited the US as a sign of
gratitude for their help.
• He then went to China who provided economic and military aid to
Pakistan.
• Finally to USSR for moderating hostilities.
Murree Talks 26-29 April 1972
• India suggested resolution of Kashmir issue. Pakistan was interested
in more immediate issues.
• India was not ready to settle the issue of POWs and occupied
territory. Pakistan considered these as more pressing issues
Shimla Agreement
• The Government of India and the Government of Pakistan are
resolved that the two countries put an end to the conflict and
confrontation that have hitherto marred their relations and work for
the promotion of a friendly and harmonious relationship and the
establishment of durable peace in the subcontinent so that both
countries may henceforth devote their resources and energies to the
pressing task of advancing the welfare of their people.
• In order to achieve this objective, the Government of India and the
Government of Pakistan have agreed as follows:
• That the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations
shall govern the relations between the two countries.
• That the two countries are resolved to settle their differences by peaceful
means through bilateral negotiations or by any other peaceful means
mutually agreed upon between them. Pending the final settlement of any of
the problems between the two countries, neither side shall unilaterally alter
the situation and both shall prevent the organization, assistance or
encouragement of any acts detrimental to the maintenance of peace and
harmonious relations.

• That the prerequisite for reconciliation, good neighborliness and durable

peace between them is a commitment by both the countries to peaceful
coexistence respect for each others territorial integrity and sovereignty and
noninterference in each others internal affairs, on the basis of equality and
mutual benefit. That the basic issues and causes of conflict which have
bedeviled the relations between the two countries for the last 25 years shall
be resolved by peaceful means.
• That they shall always respect each others national unity, territorial
integrity, political independence and sovereign equality. In accordance
with the Charter of the United Nations.
• Both governments will take all steps within their power to prevent
hostile propaganda directed against each other.
• Both countries will encourage the dissemination of such information
as would promote the development of friendly relations between
them.
• In order progressively to restore and normalize relations between the
two countries step by step, it was agreed that:
• (i) Steps shall be taken to resume communications, postal,
telegraphic, sea, land, including border posts, and air links, including
over flights.
• (ii) Appropriate steps shall be taken to promote travel facilities for the
nationals of the other country.
• (iii) Trade and cooperation in economic and other agreed fields will be
resumed as far as possible.
• (iv) Exchange in the fields of science and culture will be promoted.
• In this connection delegations from the two countries will meet from
time to time to work out the necessary details.
In order to initiate the process of the establishment of durable peace,
both the governments agree that:
• (i) Indian and Pakistani forces shall be withdrawn to their side of
the international border.
• (ii) In Jammu and Kashmir, the line of control resulting from the ceasefire
of December 17, 1971, shall be respected by both sides without
prejudice to the recognized position of either side. Neither side shall
seek to alter it unilaterally, irrespective of mutual differences and legal
interpretations. Both sides further undertake to refrain from the threat
or the use of force in violation of this line.
• (iii) The withdrawals shall commence upon entry into force of this
agreement and shall be completed within a period of 30 days thereof.
• This agreement will be subject to ratification by both countries in
accordance with their respective constitutional procedures, and will
come into force with effect from the date on which the instruments of
ratification are exchanged.
• Both governments agree that their respective heads will meet again
at a mutually convenient time in the future.
• In the meanwhile the representatives of the two sides will meet to
discuss further the modalities and arrangements for the
establishment of durable peace and normalization of relations,
including the questions of repatriation of prisoners of war and civilian
internees, a final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir and the
resumption of diplomatic relations.
1972-79: Bilateralism and Nonalignment
• The independent approach to world affairs initiated in the mid-1960s
shaped up into a policy of bilateralism and nonalignment during this
phase.
• The mutuality of interests rather than permanent alignment was the
main criterion for cultivating relations with the U.S., the Soviet Union
and China.
• It was not a policy of equidistance from these states but emphasized
mutuality of interests at the bilateral level without alienating one for
the sake of the other.
• Pakistan withdrew from the Commonwealth and the SEATO in January
and November 1972 respectively. It may be pointed out here that
Pakistan returned to the Commonwealth in September 1989.
• Pakistan recognized the Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea),
Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and East Germany
in November 1972.
• Pakistan diversified interaction by giving more attention to developing
economic, trade and diplomatic relations with the states of Eastern
Europe, especially Yugoslavia and Rumania.
• Similar interaction was cultivated with several states in Asia, Africa
and South and Central America, hitherto neglected by Pakistan's
policy makers
• An important offshoot of independent and non-aligned foreign policy
was Pakistan's greater identification with the causes and issues of the
developing countries.
• It advocated the restructuring of the international economic order to
make it more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the
developing world.
• Pakistan attended the Non-aligned Summit as an observer in 1976
and formally became its member in September 1979. Earlier in March
1979, Pakistan withdrew from the CENTO. The most perplexing
problem faced by Pakistan during
Pakistan-India Relations
• The most perplexing problem faced by Pakistan during this period related
to the issues and problems arising out of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war,
resulting in the break up of East Pakistan and its establishment as an
independent state.
• India and Pakistan signed a peace agreement at Shimla on July 2, 1972 for
dealing with the 1971 war related issues which included
a) return of Pakistani Prisoner of War in Indian custody
b) Bangladesh’s threat to put 195 Pakistani POWs on war trials
c) withdrawal of Indian Pakistani troops on the West Pakistan-India border
d) recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan, and normalization of Indo-
Pakistan relations.
These issues were tackled during 1972-76.
• Pakistan recognized Bangladesh in February 1974 on the eve of the
2nd Islamic Summit Conference held at Lahore.
• Bangladesh reciprocated by withdrawing its demand for war trials of
195 Pakistani POWs. These developments produced a noticeable
improvement in Pakistan-India relations. However they continued to
view each other as major adversary.
• Pakistan was perturbed by India's policy of not relenting on military
build-up and especially the detonation of a nuclear device in May
1974.
Pakistan's relations with the major powers
• Pakistan's relations with the major powers continued to be based on
bilateralism and mutuality of interests.
• The friendly ties that developed between Pakistan and China in the
60s were strengthened curing this period.
• The top civil and military leaders visited each other quite frequently
for consultation on bilateral relations and international and regional
affairs.
• These meetings produced unanimity of views on most matters and
China reiterated its support to Pakistan's independence and territorial
integrity.
• A secure and independent Pakistan was the main feature of China's
South Asia policy.
• Their interaction in cultural, scientific and technological fields also
expanded and China made a significant contribution to Pakistan's
economic and industrial (including defence industry) development. It
was the main source of weapon procurement for Pakistan.
• There were frequent high level exchanges between the two countries,
including the visits of the heads of government and the top level
officials of the ministries of foreign affairs and defence.
• Pakistan succeeded in defusing antagonism that marked its relations
with the Soviet Union against the backdrop of the Bangladesh crisis.
• The visits of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Moscow in 1972 and 1974 helped
the two sides to understand each other's points-of-view on regional
affairs, and they developed functional interaction, free from overt
tension.
• Their bilateral trade and economic cooperation expanded during
these years.
• Pakistan's relations with the U.S ranged from cordiality in the beginning
to sharp differences on Pakistan's nuclear programme towards the end
of this phase.
• The U.S. reaffirmed support to Pakistan's independence and territorial
integrity, and Z.A. Bhutto visited the U.S. in September 1973 and
February 1975 which contributed to reinforcing their bilateral relations.
• The U.S. withdrew the arms embargo in stages: sale of non-lethal
equipment and spare parts in 1973; and cash sale of weapons on case
by case basis in 1975 - a decision welcomed by Pakistan.
• Sharp difference arose between Pakistan and the U.S. when, in 1976,
Pakistan entered into an agreement with France to acquire a nuclear
reprocessing plant.
• Viewing this as a move on Pakistan's part to acquire nuclear weapons
capability, the U.S. worked towards blocking the deal and took several
steps to make its displeasure on Pakistan's nuclear policy known to
Pakistan:
a) withdrawal of A-7 aircraft offer (1977),
b) suspension of new economic assistance and military sales (1977-
78),
c) exclusion of Pakistan from President Carter's trip to Asia when he
visited, inter alia, Iran and India (December 1977-January 1978).
d) In 1978, the U.S. succeeded in convincing France to withdraw from
the agreement for supplying a nuclear reprocessing plant to
Pakistan.
• When the U.S. discovered that Pakistan was secretly working on
setting up uranium enrichment facility at Kahuta, it suspended all
economic assistance and military sales to Pakistan in April 1979.
• On top of this was the burning down of the U.S. embassy in Islamabad
in November 1979 by a mob, consisting mainly of the students, which
pushed Pakistan-U.S. relations to the lowest-ever point.