The Tashkent Declaration
In September 1965, the long-standing border dispute, communal tensions, and conflict over the question of Kashmir flared up in a full-scale war between India and Pakistan. Fearing that this regional conflict would escalate into a conflict of global dimensions, the Soviet Union and the United States pressured the U. N. to arrange an immediate ceasefire. The diplomatic efforts of the United Nations resulted in a ceasefire that came into effect on September 23, 1965.

The Soviet Union, which had remained neutral when India and Pakistan went to war in September 1965, played the broker at Tashkent. A Soviet Government communique formally announced on December 8 that Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Muhammad Ayub Khan would meet at Tashkent on January 4, 1966. The Tashkent Conference lasted from January 4 to January 10. Largely due to the efforts of Soviet Premier Kosygin, India and Pakistan signed a declaration that is known as the Tashkent Declaration.

The significant clauses of this agreement were:

The Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistanagree to make all efforts to establish good relations betweenIndia and Pakistan in accordance with the United NationsCharter. They affirm to renounce the use of force in the settlement of their disputes.

The President of Pakistan and the Indian Prime Minister agree to withdraw, no later than February 25, 1966, all armed personnel to positions held before August 5, 1964.

India and Pakistan agree to follow the principle of non-interference in their affairs and will discourage the use of any propaganda against each other.

Both nations agree to reopen normal diplomatic functions and to return the High Commissioners of both countries to their posts.

Measures towards restoration of economic and trade relations, communications, and cultural exchanges were to be taken, as well as steps to implement existing political agreements.

Prisoners of war would be repatriated.

Discussions would continue about the problem of refugees and eviction of illegal immigrants. Both sides will facilitate conditions to prevent the exodus of the people.

The President of Pakistan and the Indian Prime Minister agreed that both sides would continue to meet at the highest and other levels on matters of direct concern to both the countries. Both sides recognized the need to set up joint Indo-Pakistan bodies, which would report to their governments in order to decide what further steps need to be taken. In accordance to the Tashkent Declaration, talks at the ministerial level were held on March 1 and 2, 1966. Despite the fact that these talks were unsuccessful, diplomatic exchange continued throughout the spring and summer. No result was achieved out of these talks, as there was a difference of opinion over the Kashmir issue.

Public perception in Pakistan had been a sense of impending victory. News of the Tashkent Declaration shocked the people, and the situation deteriorated as Ayub Khan refused to comment and went into seclusion. Demonstrations and rioting erupted at various places throughout the country, and Ayub Khan decided to lay the matter before the people by addressing the nation on January 14, 1966.

Differing opinions over the Tashkent Declaration eventually led to the removal of Z. A. Bhutto from Ayub's government. Bhutto later on founded his own political party, called the Pakistan People's Party. The Tashkent Declaration became one of the factors that led to Khan’s downfall.