India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999 (ISC Class 11 Political Science)
Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked
India-Pakistan relations alternated between war and agreement: the 1965 war ended with the Tashkent Declaration (10 January 1966), the 1971 war with the Shimla Agreement (2 July 1972), and the Lahore Declaration (21 February 1999) was followed by the Kargil war (May-July 1999). Each agreement pledged peaceful settlement but left the Kashmir question open.
Notice that each war led to an agreement (1965 to Tashkent, 1971 to Shimla), but Lahore 1999 was followed by Kargil, and Kashmir stayed open.
Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.
Understand India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999
1965 war and Tashkent. Background: the Kashmir dispute since 1947; Pakistan judged India weakened by the 1962 war and Nehru's death (1964); clashes in the Rann of Kutch in April 1965; Operation Gibraltar in August 1965 sent infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir but local people did not rise. Pakistan attacked in the Chhamb-Akhnoor sector (Operation Grand Slam, September); under Prime Minister Shastri India opened a front towards Lahore and Sialkot (6 September). A UN-called ceasefire came into force on 23 September 1965; neither side won decisively. Tashkent Declaration (10 January 1966), signed by Shastri and Ayub Khan with Soviet mediation by Kosygin: withdrawal to pre-5 August 1965 positions; restoring relations; non-interference; peaceful settlement; return of prisoners; discouraging hostile propaganda. Shastri died at Tashkent on 11 January 1966. Assessment: it ended the war and showed Soviet influence, but India returned strategic posts such as Haji Pir and Kashmir was not solved.
1971 war and Shimla. Background: the Awami League under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won a majority in the 1970 elections but power was not transferred; from 25 March 1971 the Pakistan army cracked down in East Pakistan; about ten million refugees fled to India; the Indo-Soviet Treaty (August 1971); India supported the Mukti Bahini. After Pakistani air strikes on 3 December 1971 India entered the war; on 16 December about 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered at Dhaka and Bangladesh became independent. Shimla Agreement (2 July 1972), signed by Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: differences to be settled bilaterally by peaceful means; the Line of Control from the ceasefire of 17 December 1971 to be respected; forces to withdraw to their sides of the border; no threat or use of force; step-by-step restoration of communications, trade and travel.
Lahore Declaration and Kargil. After nuclear tests in May 1998 Vajpayee travelled to Lahore on the Delhi-Lahore bus and signed the Declaration with Nawaz Sharif on 21 February 1999: intensify efforts to resolve all issues including Jammu and Kashmir; non-interference; reaffirm Shimla; confidence-building measures including advance notice of ballistic missile tests; condemn terrorism. In early 1999 Pakistani soldiers and militants occupied heights on the Indian side of the LoC in Kargil, threatening the highway to Leh. India launched Operation Vijay and recaptured heights such as Tiger Hill while keeping to its side of the LoC; under international pressure Pakistan withdrew in July 1999; 26 July is Kargil Vijay Diwas. Consequences: the Lahore process collapsed; the Kargil Review Committee led to reforms; a military coup in Pakistan in October 1999 brought Musharraf to power.
India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999: key facts
- 1965
April Rann of Kutch August Operation Gibraltar 6 September India crosses border 23 September ceasefire 10 January 1966 Tashkent - 1971
25 March crackdown 3 December Pakistani air strikes 16 December surrender of about 93,000 2 July 1972 Shimla - 1999
21 February Lahore Declaration May-July Kargil war 26 July Kargil Vijay Diwas October coup in Pakistan - Signatories
- Shastri and Ayub Khan
- Indira Gandhi and Bhutto
- Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif
How to answer India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999 questions
Questions are 4 marks per event or agreement; the syllabus asks for named events with terms and consequences.
- 1Give background in two or three points.
- 2Describe the war with dates and leaders.
- 3State the agreement terms in order.
- 4End with an assessment in neutral tone.
India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999 in real life
The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.
Duration of the war
Suppose a student wants the length of the 1965 war from 6 September (India crossing the border) to the ceasefire on 23 September.
Find it in days.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- 23 - 6 = 17 days.
- It was a short but intense war.
Answer: 17 days.
Memory hook: Subtract the days.
Surrender and agreement
Suppose a student counts from the surrender at Dhaka on 16 December 1971 to the Shimla Agreement on 2 July 1972.
Find the interval in months and days.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- 16 December to 16 June is 6 months.
- 16 June to 2 July is 16 days: 6 months 16 days.
Answer: 6 months 16 days.
Memory hook: Count months then days.
Tricks to remember India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999
Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.
Tashkent, Shimla, Lahore
65 Tashkent, 71 Shimla, 99 Lahore.
Use it when: Agreements.
Gibraltar, Grand Slam, Vijay
Operation Gibraltar and Grand Slam (Pakistan), Vijay (India).
Use it when: Operations.
India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999: solved examples
Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.
Example 1: Mediator · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
The Tashkent talks of January 1966 were held under the good offices of:
(a) the USA
(b) the Soviet Union
(c) China
(d) Britain
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Soviet Prime Minister.
Answer: (b) The Soviet Union (through Kosygin).
Example 2: Tashkent · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level
State three terms of the Tashkent Declaration.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Withdrawal of forces to positions held before 5 August 1965.
- Restoration of diplomatic, economic and trade relations.
- Non-interference and peaceful settlement of disputes.
Answer: Withdrawal, restored relations and non-interference.
Example 3: 1971 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Explain the causes and outcome of the 1971 war.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- The Awami League won the 1970 elections but power was not transferred.
- The Pakistan army crackdown from 25 March 1971 sent about ten million refugees to India.
- India supported the Mukti Bahini and the Indo-Soviet Treaty was signed in August 1971.
- After 3 December air strikes India entered the war; about 93,000 troops surrendered on 16 December and Bangladesh became independent.
Answer: Election dispute and refugee flood led to war, Pakistan's surrender and Bangladesh.
Example 4: Shimla · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level
State the main terms of the Shimla Agreement and how India views it.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Differences to be settled by bilateral negotiations and peaceful means.
- The Line of Control from 17 December 1971 to be respected.
- No threat or use of force; withdrawal to own side of the border.
- India regards it as committing both sides to bilateral settlement of Kashmir.
Answer: Bilateral peaceful settlement and respect for the LoC.
Example 5: Kargil analysis · 5 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency
Case: In 1999 a peace declaration was followed within months by a war. (a) Name the declaration and its date. (b) Name the operation and one height recaptured. (c) State two consequences of Kargil.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- (a) Lahore Declaration, 21 February 1999.
- (b) Operation Vijay; Tiger Hill.
- (c) The Lahore peace process collapsed and the Kargil Review Committee led to reforms; a military coup in Pakistan in October 1999.
Answer: (a) Lahore, 21 February 1999 (b) Operation Vijay; Tiger Hill (c) collapse of talks; reforms and the coup.
Where students lose marks in India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999
The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.
Mistake: Mixing the agreements
Dates and leaders swapped.
Do this: Tashkent: Shastri and Ayub; Shimla: Indira Gandhi and Bhutto; Lahore: Vajpayee and Sharif.
Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.
Mistake: Calling 1971 a Kashmir war only
Bangladesh context missed.
Do this: The 1971 war was linked to the liberation of Bangladesh.
Usually costs: 2 marks.
Mistake: Taking sides in tone
Non-neutral language.
Do this: Use neutral wording and attribute positions.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Exam tips
- Learn dates and signatories.
- Give three terms for each agreement.
- Keep a neutral tone on disputes.
- Add an assessment for each.
Practice questions on India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999
Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.
Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
The Shimla Agreement was signed on:
(a) 10 January 1966
(b) 2 July 1972
(c) 21 February 1999
(d) 16 December 1971Hint
Indira Gandhi and Bhutto.
Answer
(b) 2 July 1972.
Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Why was Tashkent criticised in India?
Hint
Returned posts.
Answer
India returned strategic posts such as Haji Pir and the Kashmir issue was not solved.
Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level
From the Kargil war end (July 1999) to the Shimla Agreement (July 1972) how many years? And from Tashkent (1966) to Lahore (1999)?
Hint
Subtract.
Answer
1999 - 1972 = 27 years; 1999 - 1966 = 33 years.
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Explain the confidence-building measures of the Lahore Declaration.
Hint
Missile tests notice.
Answer
They included advance notice of ballistic missile tests and steps to reduce the risk of accidental nuclear use, along with condemning terrorism.
Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency
Assertion (A): Kargil caused the Lahore process to collapse.
Reason (R): Pakistani soldiers occupied heights on the Indian side of the LoC in 1999.
(a) Both true and R explains A
(b) Both true but R does not explain A
(c) A true, R false
(d) A false, R trueHint
Occupation of heights.
Answer
(a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Test your recall
Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.
1.1965 ceasefire date?Show answer
23 September 1965.
2.Surrender in 1971?Show answer
About 93,000 on 16 December 1971.
3.Lahore signatory for Pakistan?Show answer
Nawaz Sharif.
4.Operation at Kargil?Show answer
Operation Vijay.
5.Kargil Vijay Diwas?Show answer
26 July.
India and Pakistan: Wars and Agreements, 1965-1999: frequently asked questions
Did Tashkent solve Kashmir?
No.
What is the LoC?
The line from the ceasefire of 17 December 1971.
Who died at Tashkent?
Shastri, on 11 January 1966.