Shimla Pact! Why Do We Say Indira Gandhi Disappointed Us?

We often discuss the Shimla pact that happened between India and Pakistan in the year 1972 after the division of Pakistan and of course the creation of Bangladesh. In this pact, we are very disappointed with factors like; why did Indira Gandhi sign that treaty in the first place? Why did she not bring back Kashmir? Why did she release the prisoners without bargaining for anything? Why why why? These are very obvious things to wonder looking the true picture from the outer surface. But when we dig deep we see the reasons and today I will quote four of these reasons to answer all the "WHYs".

Reason No. 1: Temporary Solution: When the war between Pakistan and India was ignited for the liberation of Bangladesh or then East Pakistan, why did not India continue it and merged both East and West Pakistan into it? This is something we often listen but do you really know it was not the permanent solution? India was in a great position in December 1971 for many reasons but temporary and the climate was one of those temporary reasons.

Since it was December, winter, China was not in a position to have a war with India because of the snow-clad Himalayan range. Also, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was not able to further spoil the position in India because once again the winters and snow. USSR was with India but it was not for long and the UN would have been another problem if the war was continued. So going for the war was in favour of India only temporarily, the change in the season would have flipped the coin against India.

Another theory we keep on discussing is when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from Pakistan and Indira Gandhi from India were signing the Shimla but why did she not ask for a quiet merger of East and West Pakistan along with the POK in India? Obviously, the two would have gone into this treaty but not everyone else in these three territories would have been happy, quoting specifically the people of Pakistan. And once the treaty was announced another mass war would have been started. To curb this situation treaty was done the way it was done and hence the first hypothesis fails.

Reason No. 2: Successfully Creating Bangladesh: We all have our own opinions about NRC and CAA, but do we know from where it all began? When we decide to look back we see that why we have entered into this situation & how much worse it was in 1971. The Bengali-speaking Pakistani Muslims have created a mission to liberate East Pakistan from Pakistan and create a free nation. When they were on this mission a lot of things were happening inside the country causing major damage to human life. Mass migration was happening and people from East Pakistan started entering India from the part of Tripura, Assam and West Bengal.

The situation of refugees in India was grave bringing with it the challenges of limited resources like food and supply along with their accommodation. Since East and West Pakistan were in a very bad state and no discussion was going to happen except the war situation, India meddled. Of course, India is a peace-loving country and we never attacked first so we waited till Pakistan started it. On 3 December 1971, the war began in Gujarat and Rajasthan and we won it and captured around 15,000 km² area of Pakistan in that region. Also, this began the war situation in West Pakistan where India took its part and finally Bangladesh was created.

The creation of Bangladesh was crucial for India because we had to send back the refugees to their own land. This was essential for the security of India and the life of people who were living in bizarre situations in refugee camps. The creation of Bangladesh came with a peace treaty of 25 years between India where the former was also badly dependent on India.

Reason No. 3: Lifelong Wining Terms: Indira Gandhi the Indian prime minister then and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the Prime Minister of East Pakistan or Pakistan now sat around the table to start the discussion of the Shimla pact. We were having their land, we were having their 93,000 soldiers, and we have proved our mettle by creating a nation altogether. Indira Gandhi was holding the power throughout the nation of India because she was having her government in every single state of India at that time telling that the whole nation was with her. What a powerful woman she was on that day I believe everyone can anticipate it. Then too we did not go for any merger, we released the soldiers and gave back their land if not in full but still a lot of land! Why!!!!

Go and check out the first reason I have mentioned that the war was beholding just because the climate was not permitting it so the situation was going to change very soon for India and that lady has cashed it so well. India kept the term that from now on both nations will not fight over Kashmir physically, the Kashmir border dispute will be tackled with only talk and both nations will agree on the present LOC. It was done and signed and to date has its major significance.

About releasing their soldiers- They were no good to us. India was feeding them and it would have continued for years and years resulting in nothing. Because they were not going to turn into Indian faithful ever. Releasing them was in favour of India to cut down its expenses which were going in vain.

Reason No. 4: America and China: India was not in a position to have a war again with China because we were not so established after the war of 1962 as yet. UN had said that it will not support any war, USSR has given its support to India only temporarily. America was already having a war with Vietnam with its Naval force around us and to show its support to Pakistan it would have attacked India from the Southern part. It is well clear that war was impossible hence comes the peaceful talking. Giving away their land also has a bit of this situation in it because Pakistan has already lost half of it in form of Bangladesh and a great portion of its land was with India.

Loosing its border, even more, would have given a jolt to Pakistan and its people which would have impacted us in future bringing back the warlike situation. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto has not won greatly the elections so he was not a very strong Prime Minister who was also begging for some grace from India to show his face to his own nation. Considering India's waterfront situation and the poorest time of Pakistan India decided to calm down the baby and gave it the candy that day.

Now we have answers for all the potential situations we imagine would have gone in favour of India in the Shimla Pact. A weaker Pakistan, a new nation Bangladesh with a peaceful and dependant treaty, increased border, and Peace over LOC; India had come rich that day already. This was of course my version of understanding it and I'm sure many will not agree with me because many have not agreed with Indira Gandhi as well that day.

Since I have spoken in favour of Shimla pact that was done by Mrs Indira Gandhi the Indian prime minister then, it doesn't make me a follower of Indian national congress. Please do not blame me for being anti-BJP or pro-Congress because I really don't believe in this bullshit. Confrontations are most welcome please do comment with your version of understanding and let's have a discussion.