Indian Defence Review

The alleged loss of about 93 square miles of Indian-claimed territory was due to the original claims being based on the exaggerated reports of some commanders.

This enabled Swaran Singh to announce in the Lok Sabha that “the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir has been determined through bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan. In accordance with the Simla Agreement, this line will be respected by both sides, neither side shall alter it unilaterally and both sides shall refrain from the threat of use of force in violation of this line.”

By 17 December, adjustment of ground positions of both sides along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir had been completed with the exception of a few positions in the northern areas, where it was held up because of heavy snows. The adjustment of these positions was to be carried out when the snows melted. These positions were mostly in the Gurais and Tartok sectors. Along the line of control, Pakistani troops withdrew from the Lipa valley, occupied by them after the ceasefire of 17 December 1971. India ceded the villages of Dhum and Ghikot in the Uri sector in return for Thaka Chak. Along the international border, we gave up Chicken’s Neck and pulled out of the Shakargarh bulge, where there were 332 villages covering 533 square miles.

Withdrawal of troops on both sides in the Dera Baba Nanak, Arnritsar, Khalra, Khemkaran, Hussainiwala and Fazilka sectors had also been completed on 21 December. In the desert Indian troops withdrew from some 10,000 square kilometres of occupied territory in Sind province. On 21 December, the army chiefs reported to their respective governments that their forces had withdrawn to their sides of the international border in conformity with the Simla Agreement.

The Secretary-General of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Aziz Ahmed, lost no time in giving his country’s interpretation of these developments. He said “the line of control, as stated by India’s Minister of External Affairs, Sardar Swaran Singh, is not an international border but obviously a new ceasefire line.” Explaining Pakistan’s stand, he continued that “the control line is a temporary line and will remain so as long as the Kashmir dispute is not finally settled. Under the Simla Agreement, this line will be respected by both sides, without prejudice to the recognized position of either side.” According to him, India had claimed the capture of 434 square miles of territory in Jammu and Kashmir, but according to the line now delineated India had only 241 square miles. Pakistan had claimed 59 square miles on the Indian side of the ceasefire line and had retained all the territory. In addition, he claimed Pakistan had been able to regularize the occupation of 12 pockets of the de facto control areas.

As part of the adjustment along the line of control, India withdrew its claim to the villages of Dhum and Chikot, measuring about 0.45 square miles, as a “gesture of goodwill following Pakistan’s readiness to withdraw from the 1.5 square miles area of Thako Chak. It was stated that this was considered necessary in the interests of peace. It is to Gen Bhagat’s credit that after prolonged and patient negotiations he managed to carve militarily a more viable line of control, improving India’s defence posture in this sensitive region. The alleged loss of about 93 square miles of Indian-claimed territory was due to the original claims being based on the exaggerated reports of some commanders.

Continued…: India’s Losses and Gains in Post-Independence Wars – III

Notes:

1. Asian Recorder, Vol XVIII, No 52, “India-Pakistan Army Chief’s Talks on Simla Agreement Fail,” p. 11148.
2. Asian Recorder, Vol XIX, No 1, “Delineation Maps Exchanged with Pakistan,” p. 11157.
3. Asian Recorder, Vol XIX, No 2, “Troop Withdrawal by India and Pakistan,” p. 11172.