Was Returning The Haji Pir Pass To Pakistan After 1965 War A Big Mistake?
Under the Tashkent Agreement of 1966, PM Lal Bahadur Shastri agreed to return Haji Pir Pass and 1,920 sq km of land, a move later criticised for its strategic cost
The Pahalgam terror attack, in which terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, has left the nation in shock. Armed with AK-47s and M4 carbines, they targeted visitors at the Baisaran grasslands in South Kashmir. This attack, the deadliest since 2019, has plunged families across the country into deep mourning.
According to some experts, this gruesome attack is a stark reminder of a historic mistake India made 60 years ago: surrendering the hard-won Haji Pir Pass at the negotiating table.
Located in the Pir Panjal range, the Haji Pir Pass connects Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir to Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). At 2,637 metres (8,652 feet) above sea level, it holds immense strategic importance, enabling PoK to monitor the Kashmir Valley and serving as a key infiltration route for Pakistani terrorists.
Many experts believe that if India had retained the Haji Pir Pass, it could have significantly reduced Pakistan's disruptive activities in Jammu and Kashmir. They argue that it would have also shortened the road distance between Poonch and Uri from 282 km to 56 km, thereby enhancing military logistics and regional connectivity.
Before 1947, the main road between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley traversed this vital route. It was lost after Pakistan occupied large swathes of Kashmir, now referred to as PoK, including Haji Pir, in 1948.
It has been reported that during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, India recaptured the pass in Operation Bakshi, led by Major General SS Kalan and Brigadier ZC Bakshi. The Indian Army secured the pass on 28 August 1965 and repelled Pakistan's counterattacks the next day.
However, under the Tashkent Agreement signed on 10 January 1966, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri reportedly agreed to return the Haji Pir Pass along with 1,920 square kilometres of captured territory, a decision widely criticised for its long-term strategic cost.
Lieutenant General Ranjit Singh Dayal, awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his role in the operation, later expressed deep regret, saying that holding the pass would have kept India in a stronger position against Pakistan. Currently, the Haji Pir Pass remains a key infiltration route, a costly legacy of that decision.
First Published:
April 28, 2025, 17:47 IST
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