Pakistan India Relations

 

Pakistan India Relations

     Pakistan and India Relations have never been smooth because of initial hostilities during 1947 and on wards. Many tragic memories of refugees problems, canal water dispute, unfair occupation of Kashmir by India, non provision of Pakistan's military and monetary assets, unfair decision of Punjab and Bengal etc. First war between India and Pakistan was fought in 1948 over the issue of Kashmir. In result of this war some part of Kashmir came to Pakistan which is known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir ( AJK ) while most of the part of Kashmir including Sirinagar was unfairly occupied by India. Majority of Kashmiri population (87%) were Muslims and they wanted to be with Pakistan. In 1949, UN forces interfered in the area of Kashmir and declared a cease-fire line between liberated and occupied Kashmir. Since than Kashmiries are giving away their lives for their liberation but all in vain. In 1954_55 India tried to reoccupy and integrate Kashmir areas with India which provoked protests and UN Security Council reemphasized that Kashmir was a disputed territory and India could not occupy it without public opinion. Unfortunately, this issue is still unresolved.

     Whenever Pakistan was given military aid by USA India declared its concern internationally that Pakistan could use that against them. India had been protesting against Pakistan China relations for air craft and weapons development showing the sense of insecurity that Pakistan could use these resources against India. India is still in the fear that as much it is torturing Kashmiries Muslims that much revenge can be given to them from Pakistan. Pakistan is constantly waiting on the negotiation table for the solution of Kashmir issue.

     In 1965 India attacked on Lahore at night with the intention to take over this city but Pakistani forces answered India with excellent fighting skills even if resources were less. Many areas of Indian Punjab were taken over by Pakistan's army after pushing Indian army from Lahore border.

In 1971, another war was fought between India and Pakistan on the border of Bengal. This war became one-sided when Bengalies favored Indian army instead of their own Pakistani army due to the poisonous propagation of Mukti Bahni. 90000 Pakistani soldiers   were taken to India as war prisoners because East Pakistanis themselves were no more interested to stay with Pakistan. Official orders were passed to save the lives of Pakistani soldiers in such conditions. Unfortunately, Bangladesh was created in 1971 and Pakistan accepted it as a Muslim brother country without wasting much time. In result of such movement (Mukti Bahni ) and the loss of East Pakistan how relations could remain normal. After a year in 1972 Bhutto signed an agreement known as Simla agreement and war prisoners were brought back.

In 1977 when Zia came to power he improved relations with India because he wanted peace on the eastern border. He started receiving large amounts of aid from US when he openly opposed the interference of Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Zia did not give much opinion about Kashmir and showed more concern about Afghanistan which ultimately improved relations with India. In India there were active riots in Punjab for Khalistan and Indra Gandhi was also killed by her Sikh guard in Oct 1984. Indra Gandhi's son Rajiv Gandhi accused Pakistan for supporting these separatists in Punjab and the relations strained. In 1987, relations further deteriorated when India started its army exercises in Rajhistan desert to intimidate Pakistan. At this time General Zia went to India to watch a cricket match at Jaipur between India and Pakistan. There he met Rajiv Gandhi and cooled down the situation.

In April 1999 Kashmiri Gurilas crossed the line of control unofficially and captured Indian occupied town of Drass and Kargil. India started counter account and fired 2 lac and 50 thousand shells and rockets were fired. India's two aircrafts crossed Pakistan's air space. World was horrified that two Nuclear powers were at the verge of war. Nawaz Sharif was persuaded by US president Clinton to withdraw any kind of army support from Kargil and Darras. Sharif ordered Pakistan army to step back. Indians took back Kashimir but Kargil conflict was a major blow to the relations of India and Pakistan.

There were some successful relations also at different times when some peace agreements were signed e.g. minorities pact known as Liaquat Nehru Pact of 1950 which was signed for the protection of Hindu and Sikh minorities. Signing of Indus water treaty in 1960 to open the rivers of Pakistan and to resolve the canal water dispute. Signing of Tashkent agreement in 1966 when the conquered areas of Punjab of 1965 war were given back to India unconditionally.  Signing of Simla agreement in 1972 between Bhutto and Indra Gandhi to get back the 90000 war prisoners and finally Zia attending a cricket match in Jaipur cooled down Rajiv Gandhi who was blaming Pakistan for the death of Indra Gandhi as a conspiracy of Pakistan. In short, it can be said that mostly the relations had been as a negative node and there were very less times when some positive relations were seen.