Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij is often in the discussion about his statements. Vij has once again made a controversial tweet on Vijay Diwas. He has raised questions on the Shimla Agreement by tweeting. Vij has described the war won by the soldiers in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War as a defeat on the table by politicians. He said that despite having 93 thousand prisoners of war, we did not do any bargaining. We could have taken PoK instead of leaving them. This was our biggest mistake, which we are suffering till today.
Vij tweeted that ‘The war won by soldiers on the battlefield in 1971, politicians lost at the table in Shimla Agreement. We had 93000 war prisoners, if we wanted, we could have taken PoK in return for releasing them, but we did not bargain. This was a big mistake, which we are suffering till today. Significantly, on 16 December 1971, India got the historic victory of the Indo-Pak war. That’s why today is celebrated as Vijay Diwas.
What is Shimla Agreement, on which Anil Vij raised questions, when did it happen
After the Indo-Pak war in 1971, more than 93 thousand of his soldiers were made prisoners of war. After this, the exercise of improving the relations between India and Pakistan, the release of Pak war prisoners started. Then on 2 July 1972, an agreement was signed in Shimla for better relations between the two countries. This agreement is known as Shimla Agreement. Shimla Agreement was signed by the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi and the then President of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Important points of Shimla Agreement
Through this agreement, both the countries had resolved to improve mutual relations, maintain peace and cooperate with each other. For this, some things were agreed between the two countries. Both countries recognized 17 September 1971 as a ceasefire. It was decided that within 20 days of this agreement, the armies of both the countries would move to their respective borders.
It was also decided that the heads of both the countries/governments would continue to meet in future also. Officials of both the countries will continue to hold talks to maintain normal relations. Both the countries will hold direct talks for peaceful resolution of all disputes and problems. No arbitration will be conducted by third parties. Transport facilities will be established. So that people of both the countries can easily move. Where possible, trade and economic cooperation will be re-established.
If there is no final settlement of a problem between the two countries and the matter remains pending, neither side will make a unilateral attempt to change the situation. Both the parties shall not aid, encourage or cooperate in such acts which are prejudicial to the maintenance of peaceful and cordial relations. Both countries will respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. They will not interfere in each other’s internal affairs on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Both the governments will take every possible step within their authority to stop such violent propaganda that targets either of the two countries. Both countries will encourage sharing of such information among themselves.
For communication, surface communication including postal, telegraph service, sea, border post, air link including flight will be restored. Representatives of both sides will continue to meet and discuss the issues of peacekeeping, exchange of prisoners of war and urban prisoners, final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir and prospects of normalization of diplomatic relations. It was agreed between the two countries that as far as possible, trade and cooperation will increase in economic and other agreed areas. It was agreed to promote exchanges in the field of science and culture.