The agreement, brokered in Shimla following the 1971 war at India’s request
Pakistan continued to uphold the spirit of the Shimla Agreement, signed on July 2, 1972, despite what officials describe as India’s repeated and deliberate violations of the pact’s core principles.
The agreement, brokered in Shimla following the 1971 war at India’s request, emphasized resolving bilateral disputes through dialogue and mutual respect for sovereignty. However, Pakistani officials say India has consistently disregarded these commitments.
“The Shimla Agreement essentially no longer holds,” Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on June 4, 2025. “It was agreed that all disputes would be settled bilaterally, but India has repeatedly undermined this principle.”
Observers note that India’s unilateral revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status on August 5, 2019, was a clear violation of the agreement. Pakistan contends that this move shattered the spirit of bilateralism enshrined in Shimla.
“India has used the Shimla Agreement opportunistically,” said retired Lt. General Abdul Qayyum. “They have violated the Line of Control, conducted the Balakot strikes, and even restricted the work of UN observers.”
Pakistan’s stance follows concerns that India may also walk away from the Indus Waters Treaty, a key water-sharing agreement between the two countries.
More than fifty years after its signing, the Shimla Agreement remains a testament to India’s repeated breaches, Pakistani analysts say, serving now as little more than a reminder of broken promises.
“Pakistan remains committed to peace,” said analysts, “but the principle of bilateral resolution has long been sacrificed on the altar of India’s shifting political priorities.”
