Pakistan Declares Shimla Agreement Defunct, Returns to 1948 Ceasefire Line: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that the Shimla Agreement with India is no longer in effect, and the country has reverted to the 1948 position regarding the Line of Control (LoC), now being referred to as the “Ceasefire Line.”
In an interview with a private news channel, Khawaja Asif said the termination of the Shimla Agreement means the LoC now holds the status of a ceasefire line, as it originally did in 1948. “The Shimla Agreement was a bilateral accord between two countries, without involvement from the World Bank or any third party. With its termination, the LoC returns to its original status as the Ceasefire Line,” he explained.
The minister emphasized that the developments following 1948, including the proposed plebiscite, eventually led to the establishment of this ceasefire line. He asserted that India’s actions have effectively rendered the Shimla Agreement null and void. “All provisions of the Shimla Agreement are no longer valid. What followed after the war holds no weight now. We are reverting to the status that existed in 1948,” he said.
Addressing the issue of water disputes, Asif stated that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be unilaterally abandoned by any party. “Any steps related to the Indus Waters Treaty must be mutual. India arbitrarily releases between 6,000 and 25,000 cusecs of water, which it has no right to do. It cannot obstruct water flow at will,” he said.
Khawaja Asif concluded by warning that continued tension would undermine the value of existing agreements, reiterating Pakistan’s firm stance in light of recent developments.