Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the Tashkent Declaration formally end the 1965 India-Pakistan War?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Tashkent Declaration was an accord signed on January 10, 1966, by Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Mohammad Ayub Khan to formally end the 1965 India-Pakistan War.12

While a cease-fire had been mandated by the United Nations Security Council on September 22, 1965, the declaration served as a diplomatic effort to secure a more permanent settlement. Mediated by Soviet Premier Aleksey Kosygin in Tashkent, the agreement included several key pledges:12

  • Withdrawal of Forces: Both nations agreed to withdraw all armed personnel to the positions they held prior to August 5, 1965, by February 25, 1966.1
  • Peaceful Relations: The leaders resolved to settle disputes through peaceful means, renounce the use of force, and maintain non-interference in each other's internal affairs.1
  • Diplomatic Restoration: The parties agreed to restore diplomatic missions and repatriate prisoners of war.1
  • Normalization: The declaration aimed to restore economic, trade, and cultural relations between the two countries.1

Despite these efforts, the agreement was criticized for failing to include a no-war pact or address the underlying Kashmir dispute.12