Unfulfilled Promises? Revisiting the Nehru-Liaquat Pact Amid Rising Tensions for Bangladesh’s Hindu Minorities

With growing concerns about the treatment of minorities in India’s neighboring countries, it is important to rethink a pivotal moment in history: the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, also known as the Delhi Agreement. The pact was signed on April 8, 1950, by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan. It was a commitment to protect religious minorities in both countries. But the current situation in the neighboring countries speaks otherwise.

After the partition of 1947, which created India and Pakistan along religious lines, the region was engulfed in communal violence and one of the largest forced migrations in history. By 1950, the situation was dire, particularly in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Bengal, with widespread violence against minorities. The Nehru-Liaquat Pact aimed to address this by ensuring protection of life, property and religious freedom for minorities in both countries. The situation mirrored Bangladesh today and the tensions there.

The pact’s provisions included protection of minorities, freedom of movement, the recovery of abducted women and looted property, non-discrimination in employment, and the establishment of minority commissions to oversee its implementation. While the pact was a crucial step toward stabilizing the situation, its uneven implementation meant that tensions between communities persisted.

Has the pact changed anything?

The partition of East and West Pakistan, which led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, was a monumental event in the history of South Asia. Yet recent events suggest that the challenges of the past have not yet been fully resolved. Bangladesh is currently experiencing serious unrest, with disturbing reports of targeted violence against Hindu minorities. This includes looting, attacks and sexual violence, indicating that the issues that contributed to the country’s division are still very much alive.

Minorities in Bangladesh

The unrest in Bangladesh has deep roots in the 1947 Partition of British India, which created Pakistan and divided it into West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The significant linguistic and cultural differences between the Bengali-speaking East and the Urdu- and Punjabi-speaking West fueled discord and protests.

Economic disparities added to the tensions. Despite East Pakistan’s large population and its crucial role as a major jute producer, it received insufficient resources and financing compared to West Pakistan. Political power was concentrated in the West, which meant that East Pakistan’s aspirations were largely ignored, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s push for greater autonomy was rejected.

The situation escalated in the 1970 elections when the Awami League, led by Rahman, won a decisive victory in East Pakistan. The refusal of West Pakistani leaders to hand over power led to a severe crackdown by the army in March 1971, resulting in mass violence and displacement. Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh, which sparked a war with the Pakistani army, ending with the country’s victory and independence in December 1971.

The ongoing violence against minorities in Bangladesh underscores the enduring challenges and complex legacy of the 1971 conflict.

Minorities in Pakistan

The persecution of Hindus in Pakistan is a major and ongoing problem that has led to a dramatic decline in their population since the country’s independence in 1947. Hindus, who once constituted a significant portion of the population in what is now Pakistan, face systematic discrimination, violence, forced conversions and social marginalization, leading to their declining numbers and deteriorating status.

At the time of partition, Hindus represented about 15-20 percent of the population in West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and about 30 percent in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Over the decades, the Hindu population in Pakistan has declined significantly. This significant decline can be attributed to factors such as migration, forced conversions, and continued religious persecution.

A recent report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) highlights several trends in India. Unlike neighboring South Asian countries where the majority religious denomination has increased and minority populations have declined, India has seen a decline in the share of its majority Hindu population and an increase in religious diversity. The document also notes that Muslim-majority countries, with the exception of the Maldives, have seen an increase in the share of the majority religious group. Specifically, Bangladesh has experienced an 18 percent increase in the share of its majority religious group, while Pakistan has seen a 3.75 percent increase in the share of Muslims.

This country analysis of minority status over a 65-year period highlights the sharp contrast in religious demography and the changing situation of minority rights and representation worldwide.

Minorities in India

The conditions for minorities in India are in striking contrast to those in neighbouring countries. A recent report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister indicates that minorities in India are not only protected, but are flourishing. According to the report, the share of the majority Hindu population has declined significantly from 84.7 per cent in 1950 to 78.1 per cent in 2015.

The EAC-PM report notes that the Hindu share of India’s population declined by 7.82 percent between 1950 and 2015, while the Muslim population increased by 43.15 percent during the same period. The report also observed a 5.38 percent increase in the Christian population and a slight decline in the share of Jains. This points to a relatively diverse environment in India, with a trend towards greater representation of minorities despite the overall decline in the Hindu majority population.

The article, authored by Shamika Ravi, Abraham Jose and Apurv Kumar Mishra, reveals that the share of Muslims in India increased by over 43 percent, from 9.8 percent in 1950 to 14.1 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, the share of Jains declined marginally from 0.4 percent to 0.3 percent and the share of Christians grew modestly from 2.2 percent to 2.4 percent, representing an increase of 5.4 percent. Sikhs saw an increase from 1.2 percent to 1.9 percent, an increase of 6.6 percent, while the share of Parsis declined sharply by 85 percent, from 0.03 percent in 1950 to 0.004 percent in 2015.

The report highlights that these shifts in population demographics point to a favourable environment for promoting diversity. It emphasises that effective policies, political decisions and societal processes have contributed to an environment that supports increasing diversity.

Who supported the pact?

Today, the issues addressed by the Nehru-Liaqat Pact still persist. Bangladesh, which emerged from the split of Pakistan in 1971, is facing serious unrest with reports of targeted violence against Hindus. In contrast, reports reveal that while India’s Hindu majority has declined from 84.7 percent in 1950 to 78.1 percent in 2015, its Muslim population has grown by over 43 percent. In addition, the populations of Christians and Sikhs have also increased, indicating a supportive environment for minority communities. This trend underscores India’s commitment to fostering an inclusive society where diverse groups are not only protected but also thrive.

India certainly seems to be the only country that has lived up to the promises enshrined in the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, in stark contrast to its counterparts. Unlike these countries, which have subjected minorities to exploitation, forced conversions and violence, India has made significant efforts to protect and support its minority communities. For those who did not experience the events of 1947 or the 1970s, the current situation in Bangladesh, where Hindus face severe persecution, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by minorities in countries that identify themselves as ‘Muslim’ countries.