New Delhi:
Sunday marks 50th anniversary of historic Tashkent pact signed between Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan President Ayub Khan, ending the 17-day war between Pakistan and India of August–September 1965.
Here are 5 things you should know about the Tashkent pact:
1) The pact was signed on the 17the day of 1965 India-Pakistan war in the Uzbek SSR, USSR (now Uzbekistan).
2) The agreement was mediated by Soviet premier Aleksey Kosygin, who had invited the parties to Tashkent.
3) India and Pakistan agreed to withdraw all armed forces to positions held before Aug. 5, 1965; to restore diplomatic relations; and to discuss economic, refugee, and other questions.
4) The agreement contained no-war pact or any renunciation of guerrilla warfare in Kashmir, the reason why it was widely criticised by India.
5) A day after the pact was signed, India’s then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shahtri died of a heart attack, still in Tashkent. The sudden death of Shashtri led to huge controversy as may conspiracy theory broke out after the death.
