Pakistan Suspends 1972 Simla Agreement Amid Rising Tensions with India

New Delhi/Islamabad: In a major escalation of hostilities, Pakistan has officially suspended the 1972 Simla Agreement with India, a landmark bilateral accord that formed the foundation of diplomatic and military engagement between the two countries for over five decades.

The announcement comes in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. India has blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for the assault, prompting New Delhi to respond with a series of strong measures, including downgrading diplomatic ties and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. In retaliation, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights, sealed the Wagah border, halted all trade with India, and warned that any attempt to divert water under the treaty would be treated as an “act of war.”

Signed on July 2, 1972, between Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Simla Agreement was intended to ensure peaceful bilateral resolution of conflicts following the 1971 Indo-Pak war and the creation of Bangladesh. It also committed both nations to respect the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and not alter it unilaterally.

By withdrawing from the agreement, Pakistan has effectively abandoned one of the few remaining bilateral mechanisms for peace and dialogue. Experts warn that this decision could lead to increased volatility along the LoC and weaken frameworks that have historically prevented full-scale conflict.

The international community has expressed concern over the rising tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue. As diplomatic relations deteriorate, the subcontinent braces for further developments in one of its most precarious geopolitical flashpoints.