A leaf from history: The Simla summit
While Bhutto was meeting various political leaders to create a consensus on the permanent constitution, he also discussed with them the issue of recognising Bangladesh, as it was a prerequisite for ensuring the POWs’ release and return of Pakistani occupied lands. During these meetings he met leaders of all shades. They were divided i.e., the right-wing parties were against such a move while the ruling coalition PPP-ANP-JUI supported recognition.
India was an important factor in this regard. Very few leaders knew that Bhutto was already working on establishing contacts with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after his takeover. He succeeded in this mission when, on December 31, 1971, ten days after he took over as President and Chief Martial Law Administrator, Mrs Indira Gandhi said that talks with Pakistan were the only way to achieve peace. In the following month Bhutto expressed willingness to go to India and hold talks. In April 1972, Indira Gandhi announced that India was in direct contact with Pakistan. This was followed by emissary level talks between the two countries and in the same month it was decided that Bhutto would travel to India to hold a summit with Indira Gandhi. The venue was set at Simla, a historical summer resort where important meetings had been held by leaders striving for Independence.
Bhutto knew that delaying the talks would put both issues into jeopardy indefinitely as it was clear that without the consent of India and Bangladesh, neither issue could be resolved. Preparations for talks had already begun and the general opinion was that the summit was very important and should yield a definite result. Bhutto took off from Lahore on June 28, 1972, with an entourage of 92 members including lawmakers, newsmen, party loyalists, officials and his daughter and future prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, who was still a student. The delegation included Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Malik Mairaj, Rafi Raza and Secretary General of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Ahmad. The Simla Governor’s House was the venue for the talks where Indira Gandhi herself received Bhutto; Bhutto reciprocated warmly and shared that he too was keen to respond to the wishes of the people of the subcontinent who were fed up with the past strife and conflicts and were eager to see a chapter of friendship and amity open in Indo-Pakistan relations. This was somewhat in line with the statement he issued before departing from Lahore: “We are going to India in circumstances which are but a part of the tragic legacy we inherited…Some disgruntled men of yesterday have the temerity to question why we are going to India. Do they think that we should not seek the return of our prisoners? Do they suggest that we should allow the Indians to continue their occupation of two tehsils in Sindh and one in Punjab?”
Bhutto was apprehensive that if no tangible result surfaced he would be lynched by the people of Punjab; that is why the Punjab Governor, Mustafa Khar, was asked to be on guard against any failure.
Indira Gandhi was a very accomplished lady who inherited her political acumen as part of her family legacy; she had learnt much from her father, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, and had successfully led India to many triumphs. On the first day, addressing the whole delegation, the opening remarks were encouraging: “I want to say, believe me, we are interested in peace. That is our objective and we will strive for it. We want to turn the corner. We want to make a new beginning.”
The first day passed in formalities; after the inaugural session the two leaders had meetings with their close aides. Bhutto said he wanted a step-by-step move forward, which she did not reject. Mrs Gandhi wanted a composite solution which should incorporate the 25-year old issue of Kashmir and the issues emanating from the December 1971 war but Bhutto wanted every issue settled in its historical perspective. Extensive arguments were exchanged with Pakistan insisting that the release of POWs and evacuation of occupied territories should precede talks on Kashmir. Mrs Gandhi took a firm stand on a composite solution, saying that Pakistan should understand the need for solving all unresolved issues ensuring a durable peace. However, Bhutto wanted Kashmir issue to be “frozen and tackled at a more propitious time”.