What Did Pakistan's Defence Minister Say About the Simla Agreement?

Pakistan's Defence Minister Questions Simla Agreement's Validity

Islamabad: On Thursday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that India's recent actions have undermined the Simla Agreement's integrity.

Asif, known for his outspoken nature, shared these views during an interview with Geo News.

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the minister has made several contradictory statements.

He emphasized that the agreement was a bilateral matter, asserting that no external parties, including the World Bank, were involved.

Asif hinted that Pakistan might contemplate ending the Simla Agreement, suggesting that the Line of Control (LoC) could be redefined as a 'ceasefire line' in such a scenario.

Following India's retaliatory actions post-Pahalgam attack, Pakistan had only issued threats regarding the termination of the Simla Agreement, without taking any concrete steps to annul the historic treaty.

The Simla Agreement, established after the 1971 conflict between India and Pakistan, outlines the principles governing their bilateral relations.

Tensions have surged between the two nations since the Pahalgam incident, with India conducting targeted strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. In response, Pakistan attempted to strike Indian military installations on May 8, 9, and 10, prompting a strong counter from India.

The military confrontations concluded with an agreement to cease hostilities following discussions between the military operations directors of both countries on May 10.