Answer:
THE APPROACH
INTRODUCTION: Briefly mention the Tashkent Agreement as a diplomatic effort between India and Pakistan following the 1965 Indo-Pak War.
THE BODY
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- Mention the circumstances that led to the Tashkent Agreement.
- Mention the highlights of the Agreement.
- Mention the outcome of the Tashkent Declaration.
CONCLUSION: Summarize the Tashkent Agreement as a crucial diplomatic effort.
INTRODUCTION:
On January 10, 1966, in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, which was a constituent republic of the USSR, the Tashkent Agreement was signed in order to end the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965. The primary goals were to enhance bilateral relations while preserving the respective nations diplomatic and economic ties and to keep away from each other’s internal and external affairs.
THE BODY:
Circumstances that led to the declaration
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- Confrontations between India and Pakistan began in April 1965 and escalated into major hostilities in August, when Ayub launched operation Gibraltar.
- It aimed at the infiltration of Pakistan’s forces in Kashmir to drive an insurgency against Indian The operation failed as local population informed the Indian Army on time.
- India responded strongly, and the conflict led to considerable loss of soldiers and material.
- During the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union were concerned about India-Pakistan conflict escalation, fearing regional implications and both used every diplomatic means to bring the two warring nations to the negotiation table.
- In the end, both India and Pakistan agreed to cease all hostilities after a United Nations Security Council resolution 211 which called for the end of the war was passed on 22nd September 1965.
- The mediation was done through the USSR, upon which a meeting was held at Tashkent, from 4th to 10 January 1966 in order to create a more lasting peace between India and Pakistan. The talks between Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Muhammad Ayub Khan were moderated by Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin.
Highlights of the Tashkent Agreement
Prime Minister of India and President of Pakistan agreed that:
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- both sides will exert all efforts to create good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
- Not to have recourse to force and to settle their disputes through peaceful means.
- The agreed that peace in the region, particularly in the Indian Subcontinent and the interests of the peoples of India and Pakistan were not served by the continuance of tension.
- Withdrawal of armed personnel: Both sides agreed that all armed personnel of the two countries shall be withdrawn not later than 25 February 1966 to the positions they held prior to 5 August 1965, and both sides shall observe the cease-fire terms on the cease-fire line.
- Normal functioning of diplomatic relations: Both sides agreed that the High Commissioners of India and Pakistan will return and the normal functioning of diplomatic missions of both countries will be restored. Both sides shall observe the Vienna Convention of 1961 on Diplomatic Intercourse.
- Repatriation of the prisoners of war and territories: Both sides agreed to carry out the repatriation of the prisoners of war and return the captured territories as per the pre-war The two leaders would work towards improving bilateral relations.
- Principle of Non-interference: both the leaders agreed that relations between India and Pakistan shall be based on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of each other.
- Peaceful settlement of disputes: The Agreement called for a peaceful settlement of all outstanding disputes, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through negotiations and diplomatic channels.
- Restoration of status quo: Both sides agreed to consider measures towards the restoration of economic and trade relations, communications, as well as cultural exchanges, and to take measures to implement the existing agreements.
- Question of refugees: Both sides agreed that they will continue the discussion relating to the problem of refugees and illegal They also agreed that both sides will create conditions which will prevent the exodus of people.
CONCLUSION:
Following the Indo-Pak War of 1965, the Tashkent Agreement represented a significant diplomatic attempt to bring peace and security to the region. However, it did not result in a permanent resolution of the underlying problems between the two countries regarding Kashmir issue but ended the war and restored diplomatic relations between both the countries.
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