Latest news with #TashkentAgreement
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — May 30, 2025
Manipur situation The intent by some in the National Democratic Alliance 'to form a 'popular' government in Manipur' is strange (Page 1, May 29). That these people are unaware of the ground reality is cause for concern. The consensus of all stakeholders and a proper settlement of the ethnic conflict is what will pave the way for a conducive environment. One expects the government of the day to engage with the warring factions and find a lasting solution to the crisis. Prabhu Raj R., Bengaluru MP's line Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has done a good job of turning the defence of India's position vis-à-vis Pakistan into an unqualified eulogisation of the top leader in the course of India's diplomatic outreach (Inside pages, 'Shashi Tharoor faces flak from his own party for remarks on LoC breach', May 29). Reading between the lines, one can say with certainty that the MP awards more marks to the government of the day than previous Congress governments in dealing with Pakistan. For all his scholarship, sophistication, sensitivity and sensibility, are his words laced with the belligerence typical of right-wing hardliners? Is there a desperation to demonstrate that he wears his patriotism on his sleeves? A poet dreamt that he was a butterfly and was left to wonder which way he was dreaming. The MP seems to share the poet's predicament. G. David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu Had the erudite leader remembered the India-Pakistan war of 1965, he would have known that the Indian Army had not only crossed the ceasefire line but also captured the entire Haji Pir bulge in the Battle of Haji Pir Pass. It marked a turning point in the conflict and held until vacated under the Tashkent Agreement. Not recognising such significant military achievements would be more than unfair to the valour and the sacrifices of India's armed forces. S.K. Choudhury, Bengaluru The MP's statements have sparked understandable outrage within his own party. While political maturity involves acknowledging national achievements beyond party lines, it is troubling when such statements blur ideological boundaries and confuse people. By appearing to align with the ruling party's narrative, the MP risks weakening the Opposition's position and inadvertently bolstering the BJP's propaganda. It is essential for Opposition leaders to maintain clarity, consistency, and an accountability to the values their party stands for. Rukma Sharma Jalandhar, Punjab Digital literacy Digital literacy in rural India is essential. Many lack Internet access and basic digital skills. Governments and schools must provide the necessary infrastructure and training. Bridging this divide ensures equal opportunities for education, jobs, and growth. As a student, I believe it is time to act. Buvan Doolla, Mumbai Inadequate Torrential rainfall following the early onset of the southwest monsoon has undoubtedly exposed the creaky drainage infrastructure of Indian cities. There is no doubt that several of India's metropolitan cities do not have well-equipped drainage systems to deal with the recent changes in weather patterns. With weather vagaries becoming the new normal, cities have to invest more to revamp their drainage systems to avoid the flooding that affects livelihoods and causes damage. M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Sanjeev Chopra's book details Shastri's many contributions to nation, party
The 1965 war, Pakistan's second attempt to seize Kashmir, ended in Tashkent with Lal Bahadur Shastri returning the Haji Pir Pass - a gesture that disappointed even his family Listen to This Article The Great Conciliator: Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Transformation of India by Sanjeev Chopra Bloomsbury 370 pages ₹899 India's stated policy is that there can be no international intervention to resolve the Kashmir issue — that it can only be done bilaterally. Variations on this theme range from total rejection of any international intervention to tentative acceptance of technical assistance. But the reality is that in past wars (including near-wars/skirmishes/standoffs) with Pakistan, pressure, even direct intervention, from foreign powers has contributed significantly to ending them. The most manifest evidence of this was the 1965 war that concluded with the Soviet Union-brokered Tashkent Agreement
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Poonch's geographical location makes it vulnerable to Pakistan shelling'
A day after surviving intense Pakistan shelling, 68-year-old Pradeep Khanna, a retired education department official, says it is the geographical location of Poonch, close to the Line of Control (LoC) that makes it vulnerable to Pakistan shelling. Khanna is uniquely placed to delve into the details of Poonch, having lives through two India-Pakistan wars (1965 and 1971) while being in this town. He adds the situation worsened further after the Tashkent Agreement of 1966, when India gave away the Hajipir Pass to Pakistan. The district across 1,674 sqkm has a population of nearly five lakh. 'Poonch city alone has over one lakh population and has Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs in almost equal proportion. However, Muslims remain a majority in the district,' says Khanna. In 1965 war, India had captured Hajipir Pass, Hazira, Bagh and other areas, which were later given back to Pakistan under Tashkent Agreement. 'Poonch is actually a bowl shaped valley and Pakistan sits on dominating positions adjoining Ajote, Digwar, Digwar Terwal, Digwar Maldlyal, Malti, Gulpur and Guntrian areas. Betar Nullah (rivulet) divides us here. Chirikot post of Pakistan is just atop Poonch town. In Mandi, Pakistan has Kopra post on a dominating position. Similarly, in Jhallas, Pakistan sits on a higher ground,' says Khanna. 'They are visible to us and we are to them but they are on higher ground and we cant harm them,' he adds. Former GOC of the Srinagar-based15 Corps, also called Chinar Corps, Lt Gen KJS Dhillon said Poonch, south of Pir Panjal range, has an important strategic and historical value. 'Poonch sits at the mouth of Hajipir Pass from Jammu region, i.e., western side and the other end is Uri from Kashmir side. Since Poonch is strategically located, there is a very strong presence of Indian military,' he says. The former general says, 'Pakistan tries retaliate but can't hit Indian army because then it will be initiation of war. Therefore, it has been hitting innocent civilians and their properties. It is as good as they killed innocent civilians in Pahalgam and now killing innocent civilians on LoC.' He admitted that there were certain areas in Poonch where Pakistan has dominating positions along the LoC. 'We also have lot of dominating heights on the LoC where if we start hitting their civilians, it will hurt them badly. But we are an ethical army and never fire on civilians. Pakistan knows that since Indian Army is not going to retaliate by firing on their civilians, they are targeting our civilians and trying to incite us to hit their civilians or military installations, which we have not done during Operation Sindoor,' he says. Being strategically located, Poonch district has four brigades—Poonch, BG, KG and a RR-- to check any aggression by Pakistan. According to Lieutenant General (retired) Rakesh Sharma, who served five stints in Jammu and Kashmir, Poonch town's proximity to the LoC makes it vulnerable to cross-border shelling and artillery fire. He also pointed out the strategic importance the Hajipir Pass, a mountain route currently located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) could have served at this time, had to not been handed over to Pakistan by erstwhile government, terming the move a 'blunder'. The Hajipir Pass connects Uri with Poonch, south of Pir Panjal range. India gave the pass to Pakistan following Tashkent Declaration in January 1966. India had captured it during the 1965 India-Pakistan war.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
1947 India Pakistan war to Operation Sindoor: A look at the conflict so far
Since Independence, India and Pakistan have engaged in war at least three times apart from border skirmishes escalating to war-like conditions. Tensions between the two nations have been rising again since the Pahalgam terror attack. Here's a look at the troubled history of the two neighbours: Jammu and Kashmir became a flashpoint between the two countries, leading to a war. The UN brokered a ceasefire in 1948. Territorial disputes in Kashmir led to full-scale war and intense fighting between India and Pakistan. The Tashkent Agreement was signed in January 1966, leading to a return to pre-war positions and the establishment of a peace framework. India intervened in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) following the Bangladesh Liberation War, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh. India won a decisive military victory over Pakistan. India conducted Operation Brasstacks, raising concerns of a potential war after Pakistani mobilisation. Diplomatic engagements helped de-escalate tensions conflict. Kashmiri dissidents, backed by Pakistan, launched an armed insurgency against the Indian government. India deployed a large number of troops to suppress the rebellion. Pakistani troops, disguised as terrorists, infiltrated the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir. India responded with full military force, leading to intense fighting. India successfully repelled the intruders and re-established control over the territory. The conflict ended with return to status quo along LoC. The Indian Parliament was attacked by Pakistan-based terrorists, leading to a massive military standoff between India and Pakistan, with both nations mobilising troops along the border. After Mumbai attacks, India accused Pakistan-based groups of involvement, and both sides readied military forces along LoC. While military confrontation was avoided, diplomatic ties between the two countries were strained. On the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, five Indian soldiers and three Pakistani soldiers were killed in a skirmish, with both sides blaming each other. The incident heightened tensions and calls for restraint from both sides. After beheading of an Indian soldier in Jammu & Kashmir, skirmishes broke out, leaving 22 soldiers dead. India carried out surgical strikes on terrorist camps across the LoC in response to the Uri attack, a series of cross-border skirmishes. They were followed by retaliatory strikes from Pakistan. Following the Pulwama attack, India conducted airstrikes in Balakot, Pakistan, leading to a dogfight between the air forces of both countries. A major exchange of gunfire and shelling along the LoC left at least 22 dead, including civilians. The ceasefire violations led to increased casualties and displacement of civilians. A ceasefire agreement was reached in February 2021.
News18
28-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
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
