By Sohail Parwaz
The miseries and
sacrifices of Kashmiris have different angles. It has been covered by the
writers, researchers and the historians in different ways. Thousands of books
and papers have been written about the gruesome tales. Amongst them few have
taken pain to cover and documented them chronologically. Of them one is the
Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi who published a 15 volume book in 1991,
under the title ‘Documents on Kashmir Problem’. It’s a culling and compilation
of original historic documents i.e. letters, telegrams, treaties and
resolutions etc. Although it’s very difficult to extract the letters and
telegrams from all the 15 volumes since it’s difficult if not impossible,
however, while taking its first volume, the dates and chronology of some documents
revealed the intentions and aim of the then Indian government. It clearly
exposes the Maharaja Hari Singh’s and the Indian government’s nefarious nexus.
It shows that the stage was set for the Indian forces landing in the valley.
The plan was made immediately after the passing of the resolution by the All
Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference about accession of the State with Pakistan,
while the correspondence with the Pakistan government and the authorities was
merely a cover up or eye wash. Some of the vital documents are being appended
below without any or in some cases with brief comments just to explain in case
of need.
Astoundingly in
August 1947, an exchange of telegrams between the Kashmir government and the
Pakistani authorities exhibited that both were engrossed and agreeing upon an
idea of Standstill Agreement on all issues and that is confirmed through a
telegram dated August 12, 1947, from Prime Minister, Kashmir State, to Sardar
Abdur Rab Nishtar, States Relations Department, Karachi, where the Prime
Minster clearly agrees that:
“Jammu & Kashmir government
would welcome Standstill Agreements with Pakistan on all matters [….]”. The same was warmly reciprocated through a telegram of
August 15, 1947, from Foreign Secretary, Government of Pakistan, Karachi, to
the Prime Minister Jammu & Kashmir at Srinagar, “Your telegram of the 12th. The
Government of Pakistan agrees to have a Standstill Agreement with the
Government of Jammu &Kashmir[….]”
Interestingly,
when a telegram exchange on the same subject, between the Kashmir Government
and the Government of India took place, the reply from India was:
“The Government of India would be
glad if you or some other minister duly authorized on this behalf could fly to
Delhi for negotiating Standstill Agreement between Kashmir Government and
Indian Dominion. Early action is desirable to maintain intact existing
agreements and administrative arrangements.”
The point is that
if the Pakistan Government could trust the Kashmir Government’s intentions
merely on the basis of a telegram exchanged then what compelled the Indians to
ask for an instantaneous one-on-one meeting?
In fact something had already started cooking up in the ‘Kashmir
Kitchen’, under the supervision of the ‘Indian Chefs’ and
it was soon after the passing of the resolution regarding accession to
Pakistan, by the Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Conference. Surprisingly, merely
within 100 days, the Indian forces had their boots in the Valley. Obviously it
was not possible in such a short time unless preliminaries had already not been
tied up.
Although through a
telegram of 12 August 1947, the Prime Minister of Kashmir assured Pakistan
about strictly adhering to a Standstill Agreement, nevertheless, the events on
ground were negating any such assurance. The Pakistan’s government machinery
smelled fishy maneuvers, hence decided to contact the Kashmir government. A text
(given below) was immediately telegraphed to the Prime Minister Kashmir. The
telegram dated October 12, 1947, from Foreign Secretary to the government of
Pakistan to the Prime Minister of Kashmir said:
“Men of Pakistan Army who have
recently returned from leave at their homes in Poonch have report that armed
bands, which includes troops are attacking Muslim villages in the State [….] one feature of the present situation in
Poonch which, however, makes it peculiarly dangerous to the friendly relations
which the Pakistan Government wishes to retain with Kashmir, is that the
Pakistan Army obtains a large number of recruits from Poonch. Feeling in the
battalions to which these men belong is rapidly rising and the situation is
fraught with danger. The Pakistan Government wishes to avoid such a situation
as they are sure do the Government of Kashmir, but if it is to be avoided,
immediate and effective steps must be taken to end the present state of
affairs, and in particular, if it is true that state troops are taking part in
the attack on Muslims, to ensure the restoration of their discipline. The
Government of Pak would like to be informed of the action taken”.
The telegram
clearly spelled Pakistan’s concern and worries which were certainly valid;
however, instead of satisfying the Pakistani Government, the Prime
Minister of Kashmir leveled counter charges and attempted to justify the
killings done by the Dogra forces through his reply. Unexpectedly, the Kashmir
prime minister couldn’t hide his despicable aim in his reply. Reply of the
Prime Minister of the Kashmir dated 15 Oct 1947 to the Government of Pakistan:
“This Government has ample proof of
infiltration. As is the result in every Govt, including Pakistan Dominion,
Military has to take action when disturbances caused cannot adequately be dealt
with by Civil Administration. [….] If unfortunately this request is not heeded Government,
much against its wishes, will have no option but to ask for assistance to
withstand aggressive and unfriendly actions of the Pakistan people along our
border”.
One wonders if anyone had ever gone into these minute details to
extract the actual wicked intentions of the Maharaja and his collaborator, the
Indian Government! After sending the telegram of 15 July, 1947 the Kashmir government
appeared to be in a haste and couldn’t hide her excitement, hence, sent yet
another telegram just after 3 days, to a person nothing less than the
distinguished Governor General of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Telegram dated October 18, 1947 from the Prime Minister of the Kashmir to the
Governor General of Pakistan:
“[….] Finally the Govt wish to make it
plain that it is not possible to tolerate this attitude longer without grave
consequences to the life, property of people which it is sacredly bound to
defend at all costs. The Govt even now hopes that you would personally look
into the matter and put a stop to all the iniquities which are being
perpetrated. If, unfortunately this
request is not heeded the Govt fully hope that you would agree that it would be
justified in asking for friendly assistance and oppose
trespass on its fundamental rights. (Copy telegraphed to Pakistani Prime
Minister also)”.
The sender
probably forgot that the person he addressed was an exemplary statesman and a
politician of unmatched ethical standards. Even the British Lords and
Viceroys would think hundred times before conversing with him. Consequently,
the prime minister of Kashmir got the dose. It was a historical reply and no
one could say that it was written by the head of the state of a country that
got freedom hardly few weeks back. Telegram dated October 20, 1947 from the
Governor General of Pakistan, to the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir
“I have received telegram of the
18th October from your Prime
Minister regarding the situation in Kashmir which I regret was released to the
press before it reached me and before I could deal with it. My Government has
already been in communication with your Government and I deplore that your
Prime Minister should have restored to the tone and language adopted in his
telegram to me which embodies a threat to seek outside assistance and is almost
in the nature of an ultimatum. This is hardly the way for any responsible and
friendly Government to handle the situation that has arisen. [……] in
the circumstances I am, reluctantly, forced to the conclusion that the
unfounded allegations and accusations are only a smoke screen to cover the real
aim of your Govt’s policy. A recent instance of this policy is the
differential treatment accorded to the leaders of the Kashmir National
Conference and the Muslim Conference. […..] the course which
your Government is pursuing in suppressing the Mussalmans in every way, the
atrocities which are being committed by your troops and which are driving
Muslims out of the State, various indications given in the press, particularly
the release to the Press of your Prime Minister’s telegram addressed to me
containing unfounded allegations and the threat to enlist outside assistance,
show clearly that the aim of your Government’s policy is to seek an opportunity
to join the Indian Dominion. This policy is naturally creating deep resentment
and grave apprehension among your subjects 85 percent of whom are Muslims. [….]
Any sensible person would consider it as a ‘Shut-up’ call, given
in the diplomatic way. However Maharaja was
looking for this opportunity and as the Indian Government and the Raja had
already premeditated, within a week the Maharaja scripted a letter to the most
controversial Viceroy of the Subcontinent, Lord Mountbatten, who was now the
Governor General of India. Text of letter dated 26 October 1947 from Sir Hari
Singh, Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, to Lord Mountbatten, the Governor General
of India:
My dear Lord Mountbatten,
I have to inform your Excellency
that a grave emergency has arisen in my state and request immediate assistance
of your Government. [….] if my State has
to be saved immediate assistance must be available at Srinagar. Mr. Menon
is fully aware of the situation and he will explain to you, if further
explanation is needed.
In haste and with kindest regards,
Yours sincerely
Hari Singh
The Palace
Jammu
,
26 October
1947
The whole stage
was set for these few lines. It was enough of an excuse for invading a peaceful
state against the wishes of the majority of the public. So, within next 24
hours Lord Mountbatten replied to Maharaja assuring him ‘assistance’. Text of
Lord Mountbatten’s reply dated 27 Oct 1947 to the Kashmir Ruler signifying his
Acceptance of the Instruments of Accession:
My dear Maharaja Sahib
Your Highness’ letter dated 26
October has been delivered to me by Mr. V.P. Menon. In the special circumstances mentioned by Your
Highness my Government have decided to accept the accession of Kashmir State to
the Dominion of India. [……]
Meanwhile, I respond to Your
Highness’ appeal for military aid action has been taken today to send troops of
the Indian Army to Kashmir to help your own forces to defend your territory and
to protect the lives , property and honour of your people.[….]
With kind regards,
I remain,
Yours sincerely,
Mountbatten of Burma
New Delhi
October 27, 1947
That’s how the new tale about the miseries of the inopportune
Kashmiris started. Ever since then, the number of the Indian troops
is increasing in the Kashmir Valley and so is the severity of the
atrocities committed by the brutal Indian Army. The irony is that on one hand
the innocent Muslim Kashmiris of Jammu & Kashmir were suppressed and
tortured while on the other hand the clever Indian Prime Minster Pundit
Jawaharlal Nehru was assuring the world at every forum, about extending the
plebiscite right to the Muslims of the Valley. That’s the most tragic episode
of this unresolved issue. What Pandit Nehru assured to the outer world and what
he executed and accomplished internally is a different story being kept pending
for some other time.
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