Key Agreements Between Pakistan and India Since 1947

The relationship between Pakistan and India has experienced periods of both cooperation and conflict since Partition. Diplomacy, culture, politics, and trade have all seen their share of ups and downs. Due to the complex nature of their relationship, bilateral agreements have followed a similar fluctuating pattern.

Following a recent tragic incident involving an attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, a valley in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government in New Delhi accused Pakistan of involvement without providing substantiating evidence. In response, the Indian government also moved to suspend the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty.

Pakistan has cautioned India that it might suspend all bilateral deals, notably the Shimla Agreement, in retaliation. Islamabad has declared the closure of the Wagah border and the suspension of trade with India, among other actions.

Given these recent developments, let’s examine some of the significant agreements inked between the two nations since 1947.

The Liaquat-Nehru Pact (1950)

In April 1950, Prime Ministers Liaquat Ali Khan of Pakistan and Jawaharlal Nehru of India reached an accord in New Delhi aimed at protecting the rights of minorities in both countries. Both governments committed to ensuring the safety and security of minority communities, providing equal employment opportunities without discrimination, ensuring freedom of movement, and establishing a commission to monitor the agreement’s implementation. This pact was established after Partition, which resulted in widespread violence and loss of life.

The Indus Waters Treaty (1960)

With the World Bank’s assistance, Pakistan and India signed the Indus Waters Treaty on September 19, 1960, defining the rights and obligations of both countries regarding the use of the Indus River system. The agreement was the result of six years of discussions and was formally signed by then-President Ayub Khan of Pakistan and Prime Minister Nehru of India.

Pakistan was granted control over the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—while India maintained rights over the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, according to the agreement. The treaty also contained provisions for developing water infrastructure such as canals, barrages, dams, and tube wells, including the building of the Mangla and Tarbela dams. It also established a Permanent Indus Commission with one commissioner from each country to promote collaboration and resolve potential conflicts.

The treaty remained effective for almost 65 years until India recently decided to suspend it.

The Shimla Agreement (1972)

During the Ayub Khan era, the Shimla Agreement was signed between Pakistan and India, with Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indira Gandhi serving as signatories. The Shimla Agreement, also known as the Shimla Accord, prevented both countries from taking unilateral action against each other, ensuring that all conflicts would be resolved through bilateral discussions. The existing ceasefire line was converted into the Line of Control (LoC) as a result of the agreement.

The agreement also included clauses on the Kashmir issue, stating that “the basic issues and causes of conflict which have bedevilled the relations between the two countries for the last 25 years shall be resolved by peaceful means.” It also expressed a dedication to engaging in dialogue to achieve lasting peace and normalization of relations.

Protocol on Religious Pilgrimages (1974)

Pakistan and India agreed in 1974 to a protocol to facilitate religious pilgrimages in both countries, allowing devotees to visit religious and sacred sites. According to the agreement, as of 2018, 15 locations in Pakistan and five in India were open to pilgrims.

The sites include Sindh’s Shadani Darbar in Hyat Pitafi, Chakwal’s Katasraj Dham, Gurudwara Panja Sahib, and the Gurudwaras of Nankana Sahib. Prominent religious destinations in India include Nizamuddin Dargah, Amir Khusro’s tomb, and Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

Agreement on Nuclear Installations (1988)

On December 13, 1988, the neighboring countries signed an agreement requiring India and Pakistan to exchange information on each other’s nuclear facilities and installations on January 1 each year. It also compelled both countries to refrain from taking any direct or indirect action against one another that could harm or destroy their nuclear assets. According to the Foreign Office, the pact officially went into effect on January 22, 1991.

Agreement on Airspace Violations (1991)

This agreement, signed in New Delhi on April 6, 1991, aimed to reduce the danger of airspace violations, whether unintentional or accidental. It specified maintaining a 10-kilometer distance from each other’s air territories, including those within the Air Defence Identification Zone, using specific standards for military aircraft.

It also stipulated that no aircraft should enter each other’s airspace above their respective territorial waters without authorization.

The Lahore Declaration (1999)

The Lahore Declaration was agreed upon in February 1999, when Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan and formalized the agreement with his counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. The agreement aimed to foster a climate of security and peace in the mutual interest of both countries. It also recognized the need to resolve outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute. Both nations pledged to intensify efforts to address all issues through comprehensive and focused negotiations.

However, the Kargil war later that year hampered the process, which resumed in 2004 during General Pervez Musharraf’s rule.

Agreement on Ballistic Missile Flight Tests (2005)

In 2005, the two countries signed an agreement requiring each other to give at least three days’ notice before conducting a flight test of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles on land or sea. It also stipulated that the launch site of these missiles should be no closer than 40 kilometers from the Line of Control or International Boundary. It also stated that the missile’s impact zone should be no closer than 75 kilometers from these borders for both sides conducting the tests.

Agreement on Reducing Risks of Nuclear Weapons Accidents (2007)

An agreement to reduce the risks of accidents involving nuclear weapons went into effect on February 21, 2007, but it only lasted for five years initially. Under this agreement, Pakistan and India pledged to improve the safety and security of their nuclear assets, notify each other in the event of a nuclear accident, and take steps to mitigate the radiological effects of such incidents. The agreement was later extended for another five years in 2012 and 2017.

Ceasefire Agreement (2003)

In November 2003, the two rival countries signed an agreement to ensure a ceasefire along the Working Boundary and LOC. While the former divides the two countries, the latter serves as the de facto border separating Indian-occupied Kashmir from Pakistan.

Frequent violations, however, were recorded starting in 2008 after several years of ceasefire. After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule in 2014, the number of violations notably increased. Both countries in 2021 reiterated their resolve to the agreement to continue the ceasefire.