ISLAMABAD: India has said that unless Pakistan gives up its claim on Takho Chak, Indian Army will not vacate a sizeable portion of Pakistan’s territory in Sialkot district, it was reliably learnt here today [Nov 4]. Official sources in Islamabad ... regarded this demand as untenable in terms of the Simla Agreement, and considered it as an attempt by India to apply tactics of pressure, in violation of the Simla spirit. ...

These sources said that India first made the withdrawals conditional even though there was no warrant for this view in the Simla Agreement. Then India delayed delineation until Oct 18, and after it was completed, she changed her position. She raised the question of Takho Chak, which she had earlier conceded, was under Pakistan’s control.

Now India has taken the position that Pakistan accepted India’s terms. In such case, hundreds of thousands of displaced persons would not only be unable to return to their homes, their future would also become uncertain. … Pakistan has consistently held the view that withdrawals to the international borders should have been completed by September 4, i.e. within 30 days of ratification of the Simla Agreement, or at latest by September 15, as agreed at the Delhi meeting... . — News Agencies

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2022