Since gaining independence in 1947, Pakistan and India have shared a relationship full of both cooperation and conflict. Over the years, their ties have experienced major highs and lows ranging from open warfare and deep political tensions to efforts of diplomacy, cultural exchange, and trade. The deals and agreements between the two nations reflect this fluctuating relationship.
In light of recent developments, where the Indian government blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, located in the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir, relations have taken another sharp turn. India has accused Pakistan of being responsible for the violence, but it has not provided clear evidence to support this claim. As a result, India announced the suspension of the historic Indus Waters Treaty, an important agreement between the two nations.
Pakistan National Security Committee has decided to suspend all bilateral agreements with India
In response, Pakistan warned India that it could suspend all bilateral agreements, including the Shimla Agreement, and took steps such as closing the Wagah border and halting trade with India.
With tensions rising again, it’s important to look back at some of the most significant agreements ever signed between the two countries agreements that, at various times in history, helped build peace, cooperation, and communication.
1. The Nehru-Liaquat Pact (1950)
One of the first major agreements came in April 1950, just three years after the Partition. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru met in New Delhi and signed an agreement aimed at protecting minorities in both countries.
The pact ensured that religious minorities would be given equal rights and would not face discrimination in employment, freedom of movement, or general treatment. Both governments also agreed to set up commissions to monitor the treatment of minorities and ensure the promises were being kept. This agreement came at a time when communal violence was still widespread following the bloody partition of British India.
2. Indus Waters Treaty (1960)
The Indus Waters Treaty is one of the most significant and enduring agreements between India and Pakistan. It was signed on September 19, 1960, with assistance from the World Bank. The treaty specifies how the waters of the Indus River system will be divided between the two countries.
Under the treaty, Pakistan received rights to the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab), while India kept rights over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej). It also paved the way for the development of water-related infrastructure like canals, dams, and tube wells. Notable projects such as the Mangla and Tarbela dams were built under this agreement.
The treaty established a Permanent Indus Commission with representatives from both countries to monitor cooperation and resolve disputes. Despite multiple wars and tensions, this treaty stood firm until India recently announced it would suspend it after 65 years.
3. Shimla Agreement (1972)
Signed after the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Shimla Agreement was a key political deal between Pakistani leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This treaty was meant to encourage peaceful relations and resolve disputes through dialogue rather than war.
One of the important outcomes of this agreement was the transformation of the ceasefire line in Kashmir into the Line of Control (LoC). It also emphasized that both nations must refrain from taking unilateral actions and instead use peaceful methods to address long-standing issues, especially Kashmir.
4. Protocol on Religious Pilgrimage (1974)
Despite political tensions, both countries recognized the need to respect religious sentiments. In 1974, Pakistan and India signed a protocol allowing religious pilgrims to visit each other’s sacred sites.
As per the agreement, Pakistani citizens could visit religious places in India, such as the Nizamuddin Dargah and Ajmer Sharif, while Indian pilgrims were allowed to visit sites like Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, and Katasraj Temple are important religious sites located in Pakistan.
As of 2018, the agreement recognized 15 religious sites in Pakistan and five in India.
5. Nuclear Non-Attack Agreement (1988)
On December 31, 1988, Pakistan and India signed a vital agreement not to attack each other’s nuclear installations. The treaty went into effect on January 22, 1991.
Every year on January 1, both nations exchange lists of their nuclear facilities to ensure transparency and avoid misunderstandings. The deal prohibits any attacks direct or indirect on these sensitive sites, helping reduce the threat of a nuclear incident between the two countries.
6. Agreement on Preventing Airspace Violations (1991)
An important agreement was signed on April 6, 1991, in New Delhi. This deal was aimed at preventing airspace violations, especially by military aircraft.
The agreement set rules to avoid accidental airspace crossings. For example, military planes must stay at least 10 kilometers away from the other country’s airspace. It also banned any unauthorized entry into each other’s territory, including over territorial waters.
7. The Lahore Declaration (1999)
In February 1999, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Lahore, where he signed the Lahore Declaration with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The declaration was a powerful symbol of peace. It emphasized the need to reduce tensions and resolve disputes through dialogue, especially the issue of Kashmir. Both nations also pledged to improve communication and trust between their nuclear programs.
However, progress stalled later that year due to the Kargil War, though efforts were revived in 2004 under General Pervez Musharraf.
8. Advance Notice of Missile Tests Agreement (2005)
To avoid surprises or miscalculations, Pakistan and India signed an agreement in 2005 requiring each side to notify the other at least three days before testing any surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
The agreement also said that launch sites should not be closer than 40 kilometers from the LoC or international border, and the targeted area (impact zone) should be at least 75 kilometers away from these borders.
9. Reducing Nuclear Risk Agreement (2007)
In 2007, Pakistan and India took another important step toward nuclear safety. They signed an agreement to reduce the risk of accidents involving nuclear weapons.
This included sharing information if an accident occurred and taking safety measures to prevent radiation damage. The agreement was first valid for five years but has been extended twice, in 2012 and 2017.
10. LoC Ceasefire Agreement (2003)
In November 2003, both countries agreed to observe a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary. This was an important confidence-building measure, especially in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Although the ceasefire held for several years, violations increased after 2008, especially after Prime Minister Modi came to power in India in 2014. In 2021, both countries agreed to reaffirm their commitment to the ceasefire.
Conclusion
Pakistan and India have a long and complicated history. Over the decades, they have signed numerous agreements many of which aimed at building trust, ensuring peace, and promoting cooperation.
Some of these treaties have endured the test of time, while others have been challenged or even suspended due to renewed tensions. Still, these agreements reflect that both nations, despite their differences, have often tried to choose dialogue over destruction.
Whether current tensions will lead to new understandings or deepen existing divides remains to be seen. But the history of these treaties shows that there is always a path forward through diplomacy, dialogue, and respect for peace.
