DELHI PACT

(1950) also called NehruLiaqat Pact pact made on April 8, 1950, following the state of tension that had arisen between India and Pakistan in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after economic relations between the two countries had been severed in December 1949. An estimated 1,000,000 peopleHindus from East Pakistan and Muslims from West Bengalcrossed the borders during 1950. In spite of the opposition of his colleague Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, prime minister of India, concluded a pact with Liaqat Ali Khan, prime minister of Pakistan, whereby refugees were allowed to return unmolested to dispose of their property, abducted women and looted property were to be returned, forced conversions were unrecognized, and minority rights were confirmed. Minority commissions were established to implement these terms, and confidence was, in fact, restored for a time.