Mentioning Kashmir issue in Shimla Agreement a mistake: Ex-Foreign Min

Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh on Monday said that Kashmir issue should not have been mentioned in the 1972 Shimla Agreement signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The former minister also said that there was no impact of Shimla Treaty on Kashmir issue.

New Delhi: As the nation marks the 47th anniversary of the Shimla Agreement, senior politician and former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh on Monday sparked a controversy by saying that Kashmir issue should not have been mentioned in the 1972 agreement signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, the former minister said, "Basic thing that Kashmir resolution would come out, did not happen," he said.

He said the inclusion of paragraph 6 in the historic agreement about the resolution of Kashmir issue through bilateral talks was not necessary. He argued that India was in a dominant position and it should not have given more space to Pakistan.

The mentioned paragraph 6 of the Simla Agreement reads, "Both Governments agree that their respective Heads will meet again at a mutually convenient time in the future and that, 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."

Objecting to the Kashmir's mention in the pact, the former minister said that there was no impact of Shimla Treaty on Kashmir issue.

"If we see in historic perspective, we offered more to Pakistan. We gave them 5600 sq Kilometer territory and released 93,000 soldiers. Bhutto made promises but did not adhere to them," he said.

He said that Indira Gandhi listened to her advisor PN Haksar who "misled" her on offering "concessions" to Pakistan.

"He (Haksar) told Ms Gandhi that Bhutto should not go back empty handed. Looking back, this suggestion was not correct. Bhutto should have been asked to fulfill conditions. And, there should not have been any reference to Kashmir," he said.

What is Shimla Agreement?

The Shimla Agreement signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan on 2nd July 1972 was a peace treaty seeking to reverse the consequences of the 1971 war (i.e. to bring about withdrawals of troops and an exchange of PoWs). It was a comprehensive blue print for good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan. Under the Shimla Agreement both countries undertook to abjure conflict and confrontation which had marred relations in the past, and to work towards the establishment of durable peace, friendship and cooperation.

The Shimla Agreement contains a set of guiding principles, mutually agreed to by India and Pakistan, which both sides would adhere to while managing relations with each other. These emphasize: respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; respect for each others unity, political independence; sovereign equality; and abjuring hostile propaganda.