Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared on Thursday that the Simla Agreement has lost its legitimacy due to India’s recent unilateral actions, including the abrupt withdrawal from the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). He warned that, without a valid bilateral framework, the Line of Control (LoC) would effectively revert to a ceasefire line.
Simla’s Collapse and Rising Tensions
Asif, speaking to Geo News, stressed that the 1972 Simla Agreement was a purely bilateral pact, signed without any third-party mediation. It aimed to manage future relations and maintain peace in the region. However, India’s solo decisions, such as ending the IWT and launching attacks inside Pakistan, have eroded the treaty’s foundation.
Military Escalation and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos
Tensions escalated last month after a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 tourists. India quickly blamed Pakistan without presenting evidence. In response, Pakistan launched “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” striking Indian military sites across several sectors.
The operation downed six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and destroyed multiple drones. The conflict, which lasted 87 hours, ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
Read: RAW-Backed ‘Fitna al Hindustan’ Seeks to Destabilise Pakistan
India’s IWT Withdrawal Questioned
Referring to India’s termination of the Indus Waters Treaty, Asif argued that such agreements cannot be scrapped unilaterally. He dismissed the notion that India could halt river flows at will, calling it a violation of international norms.
Diplomatic Push and Global Outreach
Pakistan has launched a diplomatic campaign to present its case globally. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to lead a delegation tasked with visiting global capitals and engaging the United Nations.
The delegation includes prominent leaders such as Dr. Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Senator Sherry Rehman, and Hina Rabbani Khar. Veteran diplomats like Tehmina Janjua and Jalil Abbas Jilani are also on board.
Pakistan Stands Firm
Khawaja Asif reaffirmed that Pakistan will not allow any treaty violation or aggression to go unanswered. He emphasized Islamabad’s commitment to peace, but not at the cost of its sovereignty and national dignity.
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