Understanding the Tashkent Agreement
The question asks to identify the correct statement regarding the Tashkent Agreement. Let's break down the historical context to determine the accurate information.
Tashkent Agreement Context
The Tashkent Agreement was a significant peace accord signed in the aftermath of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
- Date and Location: It was signed on January 10, 1966, in Tashkent, which was then part of the Soviet Union.
- Parties Involved: The primary signatories of the agreement were India and Pakistan.
- Purpose: The main objective was to formally end the conflict that occurred in August-September 1965. It aimed to restore normal peaceful relations between the two countries and involved commitments to withdraw troops to pre-war positions.
- Mediation: While the agreement was signed in the Soviet Union and brokered with the significant efforts of Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin, the Soviet Union itself was not a signatory party to the agreement.
Analysis of Options
Let's evaluate each option based on the historical facts:
- Option 1: It was an agreement between India and the Soviet Union. This is incorrect. While the Soviet Union played a crucial role in mediating the agreement, it was not a signatory party. The agreement was between India and Pakistan.
- Option 2: It was an agreement between India and Pakistan. This statement is correct. The Tashkent Agreement was formally signed by the Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan.
- Option 3: It was an agreement that led to the formation of Bangladesh. This is incorrect. The formation of Bangladesh was a result of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and the subsequent Bangladesh Liberation War. The Tashkent Agreement predates this event by several years and focused on resolving the 1965 conflict.
- Option 4: It was an agreement between India and Mongolia. This is incorrect. Mongolia was not involved in the Tashkent Agreement.
Conclusion
Based on the historical context and the analysis of the options, the only correct statement is that the Tashkent Agreement was an accord between India and Pakistan.