New Delhi, 22 January 1966
The following is the text of the Agreement :
INTRODUCTION
This Agreement is in four parts :
Part I Procedure concerning the immediate disengagement of troops and reduction of tension;
Part II Procedure concerning the withdrawal of troops from the occupied areas;
Part III Procedure concerning reduction of tension in the Eastern Sector;
Part IV General Points.
PART I
DISENGAGEMENT OF TROOPS AND REDUCTION OF TENSION
PHASE 1
Both forces will withdraw 1,000 yards from the Line of Actual Control in sectors as specified below :
(a) RAJASTHAN/SIND
(b) AMRITSAR/LAHORE
(c) JAMMU/SIALKOT
(d) AKHNUR/CHHAMB (from River CHENAB NW 8061 To MAWA WALI KHAD NW 7770)
In all other sectors including sectors divided by the 1949 Cease Fire Line, troops will continue to hold their respective picquets
as by so doing they will be automatically separated from each other. The only exception to this will be where, in hilly terrain,
opposing forces are at present considered to be too close to each other, each side will withdraw to a distance to be mutually agreed
upon by the local commanders not below the rank of Brigadier.
[NOTE : In the Amritsar-Lahore sector, this 1000 yards withdrawal will be modified so that Pakistani troops who are actually on
the West bank of the BRB Canal and Indian troops who are on the East bank of the BRB Canal facing each other will withdraw all
armed personnel off the embankment to a distance of 200 yards on each side. Unarmed personnel may, however, live, move and work
in this area.
The same principle will apply in Sulaimanki-Fazilka Sector, Hussainiwala Sector and Khem Karan Sector] After the withdrawal in
this phase no new defences of any kind will be prepared in occupied territory.
There will be no movement of armed military, para-military or police personnel ,either armed or unarmed within the demilitarised
zone and no civilian personnel will be permitted within it by either side.
The period for completion of this phase will be five days.
PHASE II
In this phase both sides will remove and nullify all defences which will include the :
(a) lifting of mines; and
(b) dismantling of all other defence works, less permanent defence structures constructed of steel and cement.
The period for completing this phase will be twenty-one days which will commence immediately after the five-day period mentioned in
para 5.
Working parties for this purpose will be found by unarmed military personnel in uniform. No civilian or civil labour will be used
for these tasks.
While every effort will be made to dismantle all defence works within the specified period, where owing to weather and other Conditions
it is not possible to complete this, the uncleared area so left will be clearly marked and a sketch of these given to the other side.
There will be no firing of weapons or use of explosives within 10,000 meters of the Line of Actual Control. Where explosives have
to be used to dismantle defence works, this will only be done under supervision as specified later and after due intimation to the
other side.
The present Agreement affecting restriction on flights of aircraft will continue to apply.
To ensure that the action agreed to in PART I above is being implemented in letter and in spirit, the good offices of UNMOGIP and
UNIPOM will be utilised. In the event of a disagreement, their decision will be final and binding on both sides.
PART II
WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM OCCUPIED AREAS
After the dismantling of defences has taken place, all troops, para-military forces and armed police who are now on the other side
of the international border and Cease Fire Line, will be withdrawn. This withdrawal will be completed by 25th February, 1966. If
in any particular sector or part of a sector, the dismantling of defences has been completed earlier than the last date specified,
withdrawal may be sectorwise if mutually agreed to.
During this withdrawal, there will be no follow up by civilians, armed military, para-military or police personnel until 25 February,
1966. Only unarmed military personnel at a strength mutually agreed upon at the sector level may move into these unoccupied areas
for normal police duties (see paragraph 16 below).
After troops of both sides have crossed into their own territory, the procedure which was being followed by Pakistan and India before
5 August, 1965, for the security of the international border and the Cease Fire Line, will apply. Attention is drawn to Ground Rules
1961 for West Pakistan/Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat (India).
It is essential that under all circumstances troops must move out of occupied areas by 25 February, 1966, even if the dismantling
of defence and lifting of mines have not been completed.
For immediate settlement of any points of dispute that may arise, sector commanders not below the rank of Major General will be designated
by name and appointment both by India and Pakistan who will meet to settle the differences. Telephone or R/T communication will be
established between these designated sector commanders and will be permanently manned.
Any matter on which there is disagreement will be referred to the C-in-C, Pakistan Army, and COA’s, India, for their joint decision.
If the issue is still not resolved by them the good offices of Major General T· Marambio will be utilised and his decision
will be final and binding on both sides.
PART III
REDUCTION OF TENSION IN THE EASTERN SECTOR
The limit of withdrawal in the Eastern Sector will be left to local commanders not below the rank of Major General to mutually decide
where necessary, in consultation with the civil authorities concerned. Both sides will arrive at a working agreement as soon as possible.
Border Security Forces consisting of armed para-military units, police or any other irregular forces of both sides will not open fire
across the border under any circumstances.
Any encroachment across the border will be dealt with through apprehension of personnel concerned and thereafter handing them over
to civil authorities.
In any case where firing takes place across the border it will be investigated on the spot by a joint team consisting of border personnel
from both sides within 24 hours of occurrence. Brigade Commanders/ DIGs responsible for this investigation will be designated by
name and appointment sector wise for West Bengal, Assam and Tripura by India and for the adjoining areas of East Pakistan by Pakistan.
Liaison between commanders and telephone communications at various levels will be established as given in para 12 and 13 of the Ground
Rules for Indo-East Pakistan border.
To ensure that the above Agreement is fully implemented, quarterly meetings will take place between Army and Police authorities of
India and Pakistan, alternately in India and Pakistan, to assess the extent to which the Agreement is working in practice.
These are a supplement to the Ground Rules formulated by the Military Sub-Committee of the Indian and Pakistani delegations on 20
October, 1959.
PART IV
GENERAL POINTS
In order to resolve any problems that may arise in the implementation of this Agreement and to further maintain friendly relations
between the two countries, the C-in-C Pakistan and the COA India will meet from time to time. The meetings will be held alternately
in India and Pakistan and will be initiated by the respective Governments concerned.
Ground rules to implement this withdrawal Agreement in the Western Sector will be formulated by Lt. General Bakhtiar Rana Pakistan,
and Lt. General Harbaksh Singh-India, under the Chairmanship of Major General T. Marambio as early as possible.
The Agreement comes into effect as from 0600 hours IST/0630 hours WPT 25 January, 1966.
Sd /-
The Chief of Army Staff India
Sd /-
Commander-in-Chief
Pakistan Army
