(part 3) Final
In order to understand what really might have compelled Indira Gandhi to sign, such an imbalanced deal with Pakistan . . . . We have to look closely, the Real Position of India, at the time of agreement .
1st what could have happened with India, if Shimla meetings end in deadlock? . . . . .. . Answer is simple. Both countries were under immense International pressure to end all hostilities and to resolve their disputes peacefully through dialogue. India was trying to avoid mediation. And Shimla meeting was last opportunity for India to discuss its differences with Pakistan without the mediation of 3rd party. If that meeting would have failed then international pressure could have been so immense that it could force India to accept Mediation. In that case the Indian objective of forcing Pakistan to resolve issues through bilateral negotiations could not have been achieved.
2nd. Until the time of Shimla meetings, not even a single Muslim country had recognized Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s fate was still uncertain and was linked with the Recognition and acceptance from Muslim nations. And Muslim countries were waiting for Pakistan’s decision.
3rd.Indian economy in 70s was very weak . . . agriculture sector, which was backbone of India’s economy was trembling and was proving insufficient to feed a huge population. India had spent billions and billions on supporting and training terrorists and separatists to create unrest in East Pakistan, and later on war with Pakistan. Although India was succeeded in his efforts but it got nothing from it. East Pakistan did break away from Pakistan but It became another Muslim country that was going to be dependent on India for its survival for a long time.
4th Pakistan was showing no interest in return of its prisoners. India was bound to treat those POWs according to Geneva’s convention. And they were just causing international pressure and were proving burden on already starving India.
5th After spending a lot of resources on War with Pakistan India’s economy had become so weak that It had to rely on USA and its allies for even the Wheat to feed its people. And in order to achieve this, India first had to end all hostilities with Pakistan that was at that time a major US ally in the region.
6th There was a very strong Public reaction in Pakistan after the fall of Dhaka . . .where people were getting very emotional and were talking about revenge . . . .And at that time only available leader that could have appease the sentiments of Pakistani people was Z.A Bhutto. And sending him empty handed was obviously not a good message for the people of Pakistan. . . . .
If we consider all the above points in our mind then we may assume that Bhutto must have convinced Indira with such points and must have persuaded her to end Shimla meeting in a successful way.
But Indira Gandhi was not a child. She might have taken all such things into consideration, and probably because of these reasons she might have decided to allow a final attempt to reach at some breakthrough. But still India needed something substantial in return of what Pakistan was demanding. And Bhutto clearly was not in a position to give anything in return . . .as Pakistan had already lost its Eastern wing.
So what really had been discussed between Indira Gandhi and Bhutto at the final moments of the Shimla meeting . .. . .. . we don’t know for sure .However ,there are 2 possible sources which can provide us some real hints.. One was the accounts of P.N Dhar Indira Gandhi’s principal secretary . . . . .and according to him …. a ‘tacit understanding’, was reached between the two leaders at Shimla.
2nd source is Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of Z.A Bhutto. , She accompanied her father at Shimla and Bhutto must have discussed something from that final meeting with her. Although Benazir Bhutto never leaked the information but she somehow shared some information with her husband Asif Ali Zardari.
Zardari had made a sensational claim in the Pakistani Parliament during a debate on the developments in Kashmir after the abrogation of article 370, and making Laddak a Union territory. The former Pakistani president, alleged that ex-Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi had 'negotiated' a land deal with Islamabad (involving large swathes of Pakistani land that had been lost to India) after the war between India and Pakistan in 1971.
Hidden Clauses of Shimla Agreement
by Zaheeruddin Babar
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