Pakistani Flag Removed from Historic Shimla Agreement Table Months Before Pahalgam Terror Attack

Shimla, April 25: Amid fresh tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, a surprising detail has come to light from Shimla. While Pakistan announced on April 24 the suspension of the Shimla Agreement and other bilateral arrangements in response to India’s firm stance, it has now emerged that the Pakistani flag placed beside the historic Shimla Agreement table at Raj Bhavan’s Kirti Hall was quietly removed nearly six months ago.

According to sources, the Raj Bhavan administration had taken down the flag several months prior, though no official announcement was made at the time. The reason behind the removal remains unclear—whether it was part of routine protocol or a deliberate decision is not known. Amid heightened tensions, speculation on social media suggests the flag was removed as a reaction to the recent attack and Pakistan’s posture, but that is not the case.

Kirti Hall in Shimla’s Raj Bhavan holds significant historical value—it was here, on July 3, 1972, that then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan’s President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto signed the landmark Shimla Agreement. The table used during the signing is still preserved on the dais, protected by a brass railing. A plaque on the table reads: “Shimla Agreement was signed here on 3-7-1972.”

Alongside the table are rare photographs of the summit, including one showing Gandhi and Bhutto signing the agreement. All elements of the historical display remain intact—except the Pakistani flag, which has now become a point of curiosity and debate.

Sources within Raj Bhavan confirmed that all symbols of historical significance within Kirti Hall are regularly monitored. However, there has been no official clarification about the timing or rationale behind the flag’s removal.

Although the flag was taken down months ago, the information has surfaced only recently—coinciding with Pakistan’s announcement of suspending the Shimla Agreement—prompting renewed public attention.