UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS | THE SHIMLA AGREEMENT: AN IMPERFECT PEACE | 05TH JULY | HINDUSTAN TIMES
SYLLABUS SECTION: GS I (POST INDEPENDENCE INDIA)
WHY IN THE NEWS:
The accord completes 50 years today. There was and remains a sense that India had squandered a great military victory in The Shimla Agreement. But the evidence suggests that a better deal was not possible, given the fractious nature of Pakistani politics
MORE DETAILS:
It laid a comprehensive blueprint for good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan.
It was signed to reverse the consequences of the 1971 war.
KEY PRINCIPLES OF SHIMLA AGREEMENT
UN Charter principles and purposes to govern relations between two nations.
Mutual commitment to the peaceful resolution of all issues through direct bilateral approaches.
To build the foundations of a cooperative relationship with special focus on people to people contacts.
To uphold the inviolability of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a most important Confidence Building Measures between India and Pakistan, and a key to durable peace.
Respect for each other’s national unity, territorial integrity, political independence and sovereign equality.
While India has faithfully observed the Shimla Agreement principles, Pakistan did not live up to its initial promises as:
It keeps raising the Kashmir issue at international forums and involves third parties to find a solution. Frequent Line of Control Violations.