The Dark Night of Tashkent: Peace Accord or Conspiracy Against PM Lal Bahadur Shastri?

On this day, 10 January 1966, India and Pakistan signed a historic peace agreement in Tashkent, then part of the Soviet Union. The Tashkent Declaration aimed to end hostilities following the 1965 India-Pakistan war. However, just hours after the accord, India suffered a profound shock with the sudden and mysterious death of then-Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

The Tashkent Declaration
The Tashkent peace agreement was mediated by Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin to restore peace between the two nations after the 1965 war. Negotiations took place over six days, from 4 to 10 January 1966, in Tashkent. India was represented by Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, while Pakistan’s delegation was led by President Muhammad Ayub Khan.

The agreement stipulated that both countries’ armies would return to pre-war positions, respect each other’s internal matters, and work to restore economic and diplomatic ties. Prisoners of war were to be released, and bilateral dialogues at multiple levels were to continue.

Key Points of the Tashkent Accord

• Signed on 10 January 1966 in Tashkent, Soviet Union.
• India’s President Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan signed the document.
• Both nations agreed to refrain from using force and to resolve disputes peacefully.
• Military forces were to revert to positions held before the 1965 conflict by 25 February 1966.
• Leaders committed to maintaining ongoing diplomatic and economic engagement.

Shastri’s Sudden Death
Hours after signing the agreement, Shastri faced immense personal and political pressure. Controversial decisions, including returning Haji Pir and Thithwal areas to Pakistan, reportedly drew criticism and disapproval at home. On 11 January, early in the morning, news of his death shocked the nation. Senior journalist Kuldeep Nair, who was then Shastri’s press advisor, was among the first to witness the aftermath.

Nair recounted in interviews that Shastri’s wife, Lalita Devi, was so upset over the territorial concessions that she refused to speak to him, further distressing the Prime Minister. Before his death, Shastri was seen pacing his hotel room, visibly troubled.

Mystery and Speculation
Questions surrounding Shastri’s death remain unresolved. Some allege poisoning, while others attribute it to a heart attack. His doctors insisted he had no history of heart disease. Notably, Shastri died in his sleep on 11 January, roughly 12 hours after signing the Tashkent Declaration, after meeting Ayub Khan for a final handshake the previous evening.

Kuldeep Nair described that upon entering Shastri’s room that morning, Soviet Premier Kosygin signaled that Shastri had passed away. Even Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan reportedly expressed deep sorrow, calling Shastri a “man of peace who sacrificed his life for Indo-Pak friendship.”

Raising Further Doubts
Shastri’s family raised concerns over the handling of his death. His body reportedly showed signs of bruising, and he was kept in a hotel 20 km outside Tashkent without a phone, bell, or staff to assist. His personal diary, always with him, was never returned from Tashkent. Shastri’s son, Anil Shastri, questioned why such a critical case was assigned to local authorities instead of senior officials.

Incomplete Investigation and Missing Evidence
The Home Ministry at the time handed the case over to Delhi Police and the National Archives. The family has repeatedly highlighted the incomplete investigation and missing evidence, leaving lingering questions about the circumstances surrounding one of India’s most mysterious political deaths.