Tashkent Agreement in 1966

In September 1965, the long standing border dispute, communal tensions and conflict over the question of Kashmir flared up in a full – scale war between India and Pakistan. Fearing this regional conflict within the boundaries of Indo-Pakistan would escalate into a conflict of global dimensions, the Soviet Union and USA pressurized the U.N. to arrange an immediate ceasefire which finally came into effect on September 23, 1965. Soviet Union which was neutral during Indo-Pak war, played the role of mediator (broker) afterwards and invited both India and Pakistan for holding a meeting at Tashkent. India and Pakistan signed a declaration that is known as Tashkent Declaration.

The significant clauses of this agreement were: 

• Both countries forces would pull back to their pre-conflict position, pre-August lines, no later than February 25, 1956. 

• Both agreed to follow the principle of noninterference in each other’s internal affairs. 

• Measures to be taken towards the restoration of economic and trade relation, communications, as well as, cultural exchanges. 

• Prisoners of war would be repatriated. 

• Both sides will create condition to prevent the exodus of people. 

This agreement was criticized in India because it did not contain a no-war pact or any renunciation of guerrilla warfare in Kashmir. The then prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri died due to heart attack at Tashkent after signing this agreement.