Telegrams between India & Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir Prime Minister's communications
of August 12, 1947 to Government of India
Jammu & Kashmir Government would welcome
Standstill Agreement with the Union of India on
all matters on which there exists at the present
moment with outgoing British Indian Government.
It is suggested that existing arrangements
should continue pending settlement of details &
formal execution of fresh agreements.
Communication of Government of India to Prime
Minister of Jammu & Kashmir on August 15, 1947
Government of India would be glad if you or some
other Minister duly authorised in this behalf
could fly to Delhi for negotiating Standstill
Agreement between Jammu & Kashmir Government &
Indian Dominion. Early action desirable to
maintain intact existing agreements &
administrative arrangements.
However, no agreement was executed.
Telegrams between India & Kashmir
Governor General Mountbatten's reply to
Maharaja's request
for (alleged) accession to Indian on October 27,
1947
"In consistence with their policy that in the
case of any State where the issue of accession
has been the subject of dispute the question of
accession should be decided in accordance with
the wishes of the people of the State, it is my
Government’s wish that as soon as law and order
have been restored in Kashmir and her soil
cleared of the invader, the question of State’s
accession should be settled by a reference to
the people".
Telegrams between Indian & Kashmir
Maharaja Harisingh to Sardar Patel
According to the published Correspondence of
Sardar Patel, Volume One, Maharaja Hari Singh
wrote to the Sardar on January 31, 1948, a long
letter giving vent to his agony. In the course
of this letter, he wrote:
"The military situation as you know has been
quite depressing since the arrival of the Indian
troops. Except the first gains in the Kashmir
Valley there has been a debt balance throughout
so far as achievements are concerned.
"The Indian troops arrived in the Valley on 27
October, at that time we were in possession of
about 3/4th of Poonch and the whole of the
Mirpur district. We had by then lost only small
bits of Poonch and Muzaffarabad district. After
the recapture of Baramulla and Uri, there has
been a standstill. Two months have passed and
the Indian troops are still at Uri. They
attempted to venture to the town of Poonch and
though they reached it, it was at a great cost
and the road was eventually lost. In the Poonch
Jagir, which was held by the state troops inch
by inch, we had to withdraw and eventually lost
the whole of the Jagir except the town itself,
where about 40,000 people are besieged alongwith
4 battalions (3 state and 1 Indian). The
situation is by no means satisfactory. I may
mention that in the August disturbances, with
two battalions of the state troops we cleared
the whole of Poonch Jagir, peace was restored,
the whole of the revenue was realised and the
administration was functioning normally. It was
only in the second week of October that trouble
again began in Poonch and our troops resisted it
till about the end of December. But as no help
was given, they had eventually to fall back on
Poonch town..."
He went on: "In Mirpur district, at the time
when the Indian forces arrived, we are still
holding Mangla and our territory along the
Jehlum Canal bank, but during the past two
months we have lost Mangla, Alibeg, Gurdwara,
and the town of Mirpur, the town of Bhimber and
the villages of Deva and Battala, the town of
Rajouri and the whole of the area adjoining
Chhamb, Naoshera. Jhangar, a key-place both for
Mirpur and Kotli, was lost after a defeat. These
defeats have been a heavy blow for us and have
also undermined the prestige of the Indian
forces. Not a single town has so far been
recovered by the Indian troops. The people judge
an army from results and not from propaganda
carried on about it. On the Kathua-Sialkot
border attacks have been intensified. Everyday
there is one raid after another. A number of
villages have been burnt, people have been
looted, women abducted and there have been
killings also. The result has been that all the
border villages have been vacated and we have
about 70,000 to 80,000 refugees in the city of
Jammu. Crops, houses and valuables have been
lost. Most of the people are also vacating Jammu
and its suburbs and are going to West Punjab.
The situation, therefore, is worsening everyday.
Name of the Indian Army getting into the mud
"The name of the Indian Army is getting into the
mud in spite of its brilliant record. I was a
member of the War Cabinet. I travelled in war
zones during the Great war. The name of the
Indian Army was at its highest pitch and it
pains me to see that the name of the Indian Army
has become a topic of every tongue during these
days and it is daily losing prestige. Some
people think that it is not the fault of the
Army but the fault of the policy that is being
followed: others feel that it is the fault of
the commanders who are quite new to the job.
People who would have had to wait for 10 to 15
years to become generals have been put in charge
of operations. Opinions differ, but the fact is
that the name of the Army is in the mud. Sardar
Baldev Singh was here for a day. He has heard
from our politicians, members of the public and
from me and my Prime Minister all that everyone
had to say. He told me secretly that he had
ordered certain actions to be taken. I told him
that a mere order is nothing unless it is
implemented. When you kindly spent two days with
us here, a number of decisions were taken and
you gave instructions in certain matters. Since
your departure nothing has been done and, as I
have said, we had more serious attacks. The
effort on the part of Pakistan is gaining ground
everyday. Their morale owing to success is going
up. They loot property, they take away cattle
and women and when they go back to Pakistan,
they incite people and tell them how much loot
and what benefits there are to raid our
territory. On the other hand, our morale is
rapidly going down. So far as the people are
concerned, they are thoroughly demoralised and
they start fleeing as soon as there is even a
rumour of a raid. Even people living at distant
places start fleeing when they see fire five or
six miles from their villages. So far as the
Indian forces are concerned, they do not leave
their apportioned places to meet the raiders.
There are no mobile columns to meet them. The
work is felt to a few Home Guards or to a
platoon or so of very tired state forces. How
can it be possible for them to engage 500 or
1,000 raiders ? Last time you ordered guerrillas
to come into the state and take over this work.
As far as I know, no guerrillas have arrived so
far...
"In the situation, therefore, my position as
Ruler has become very anamolous ant one of great
perplexity. People in the State continue sending
me telegrams and asking for help. Our civil
administration is in the hands of the National
Conference and military operations in the hands
of the Indian Union. I have no voice or power
either on the civil or military side. The State
forces are under the Indian Army Commander. The
result, therefore, is that I have just to watch
the terrible situation in a helpless manner, to
look on at the abduction of women, killing and
loot of my people, without power to give them
any redress whatever. People continue to
approach me everyday and they still think that
it lies in my power to give them relief and
redress. You will realise that my position is
getting most awkward every day, so long as the
military situation is adverse to us and refugees
continue pouring in the city and daily raids
from Pakistan keep on coming without any reply
from us."
He then went on to say: "Apart from the military
situation, the reference to the UNO and the
proceedings that are hanging fire there are
causing great uncertainty and perplexity not
only to me but to every Hindu and Sikh in the
State as well as to those who belong to the
National Conference. The feeling is strongly
gaining ground that the UN Security Council will
take an adverse decision and that the State will
eventually have to accede to Pakistan as a
result of what the Security Council will decide.
The Hindus and Sikhs have, therefore, started
going away from the State, as they anticipate
that the result of the UNO decision will be the
same as what happened in West Punjab and
therefore it is much better to clear out of the
State before that eventuality arises. The
National Conference leaders also feel that they
may eventually be let down by accepting the
decision of the Security Council and what would
be disastrous for them.
"My position in this matter is also precarious.
You know I definitely acceded to the Indian
Union with the idea that the Union will not let
us down and the State would remain acceded to
the Union and my position and that of my dynasty
would remain secure. It was for this reason that
I accepted the advice of the Indian Union in the
matter of internal administration. If we have to
go to Pakistan, it was wholly unnecessary to
accede to India or to mould the internal
administration according to the desire of the
Indian Union. I feel that the internal
administration or the question of accession is
wholly foreign to the jurisdiction of the
Security Council. The Indian Union only referred
a limited question to the Security Council, but
the whole issue has been enlarged and not only
the matter of aggression by one Dominion over
the other is being considered by the Security
Council but internal questions of the formation
of the Interim Government and the matter of
accession have all been taken notice of by them.
It was a wrong step in going to Security Council
and then agreeing to the enlargement of the
agenda before that Council. As soon as the
Council enlarged the agenda, the Indian Union
should have withdrawn the reference and ended
the matter.
"In the situation described above, a feeling
comes to my mind as to the possible steps that I
may take to make, so far as I am concerned, a
clean state of the situation. Sometimes I feel
that I should withdraw the accession that I have
made to the Indian Union. The Union
provisionally accepted the accession and if the
Union cannot recover back our territory and is
going eventually to agree to the decision of the
Security Council which would result in handing
us over to Pakistan, then there is no point in
sticking to the accession of the State to the
Indian Union. For the time being, it may be
possible to have better terms from Pakistan, but
that is immaterial, because eventually it would
mean an end of the dynasty and end of the Hindus
and Sikhs in the State. There is an alternative
possible for me and that is to withdraw the
accession and that may kill the reference to the
UNO, because the Indian Union will have no right
to continue the proceedings before the Council,
if the accession is withdrawn. The result may be
return to the position the State held before the
accession. The difficulty in that situation
however, will be that the Indian troops ....
have to work as volunteers to help the State. I
am prepared to takeover command of my own forces
along with the forces of the Indian Army
personally to help the State. I am prepared to
lead the Army personally and to command if the
Indian Union agrees, also their troops. I know
my country much better than any of your generals
will know it even during the next several months
or years and I am prepared to take the venture
boldly rather than merely keep on sitting here
doing nothing. It is for you to consider whether
the Indian Union will accept this in both the
situations, whether after the withdrawal of the
accession or even if the accession continues. I
am tired of my present life and it is much
better to die fighting than watch helplessly the
heartbreaking misery of my people.
"Another alternative that strikes me is that if
I can do nothing, I should leave the State
(short of abdication) and reside outside so that
people do not think that I can do anything for
them. For their grievances they can hold the
civil administration responsible or the Indian
forces who are in charge of the defence of the
State. The responsibility will then clearly be
either the Indian Union or of the administration
of Sheikh Abdullah. If there is any criticism,
those responsible can have it and the
responsibility for the suffering of the people
will not be mine. Of course, I well anticipate
that, as people started saying when I left
Kashmir only on Mr. Menon's advice, that I had
run away from Srinagar, they will say that I
have left them in their hour of misery, but it
is no use remaining in a position where one can
do nothing merely to avoid criticism. Of course,
if I go out of the State, I will have to take
the public into confidence and tell them the
reasons why I am going out.
"The third alternative in the situation that has
arisen is that the Indian Dominion discharges
its duty on the military side effectively and
makes an all-out effort to stop the raids from
Pakistan and to drive out of the State not only
the raiders but also all rebels. This can only
be done if the Dominion really fights. It has
avoided fighting so far. Two or three courageous
battles will more or less end this situation,
and, if it is delayed, there is bound to be a
catastrophe. Pakistan is more organised against
Kashmir than the Indian Dominion, and as soon as
snow melts it will start attacking Kashmir on
all sides and the province of Ladakh will also
come into the hands of the enemy and the Valley
and the whole border will be raided and even
double the number of troops at present in Jammu
and Kashmir will not be able to save the
situation. What should have been done and
achieved a month before can still be achieved
during the next month, but if matters are
delayed and if owing to the UNO reference and
the attitude of compromise, the situation
remains at a standstill, it would become
terribly grave after the expiry of the month.
Therefore, unless the Indian Union makes up its
mind to fight fully and effectively, I may have
to decide upon the two alternatives mentioned
above.
Sardar Patel's Advice
To this letter Sardar Patel replied on February
9, 1948, and said in the course of his reply: "I
fully realise what an anxious time you must be
having. I can assure you that I am no less
anxious about the Kashmir situation and what is
happening in the UNO, but whatever the present
situation may be, counsel of despair is entirely
out of place."
Telegrams between Indian & UK
Telegram from Jawaharlal Nehru to British Prime
Minister,
Clement Attlee on October 26, 1947
For Prime Minister United
Kingdom from Prime Minister India.
A grave situation has developed in the State of
Kashmir. Large numbers of Afridis and other
tribesmen from Frontier have invaded State
territory, occupied several towns and massacred
large numbers of non-Muslims. According to our
information tribesmen have been equipped with
motor transport and also with automatic weapons
and have passed through Pakistan territory.
Latest news is that the invaders are proceeding
up the Jhelum valley road towards the valley of
Kashmir.
2. We have received Urgent appeal for assistance
from Kashmir Government. We would be disposed to
give favourable consideration to such request
from any friendly State. Kashmir's Northern
frontiers, as you are aware, run in common with
those of three countries, Afghanistan, the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics and China.
Security of Kashmir, which must depend upon
control of internal tranquility and existence of
stable Government, is vital to security of India
especially since part of Southern boundary of
Kashmir and India are common. Helping Kashmir,
therefore is an obligation of national interest
to India. We are giving urgent consideration to
question as to what assistance we can given to
State to defend itself.
3. I should like to make it clear that question
of aiding Kashmir in this emergency is not
designed in any way to influence the State to
accede to India. Our view which we have
repeatedly made public is that the question of
accession in any disputed territory or State
must be decided in accordance with wishes of
people and we adhere to this view. It is quite
clear, however, that no free expression of will
of people of Kashmir is possible if external
aggression succeeds in imperiling integrity of
its territory.
4. I have thought it desirable to inform you of
situation because of its threat of international
complications. Ends.
Telegrams between Indian & Pakistan
Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan on December 12,
1947
"We have given further thought, in the light
of our discussion in Lahore, to the question of
inviting U.N. to advise us in this matter. While
we are prepared to invite UNO observers to come
here and advise us as to proposed plebiscite, it
is not clear in what other capacity the U.N.
help can be sought...
"... I confess, however, that I find myself
unable to suggest anything beyond what I have
offered already, namely, to ask UNO to send
impartial observers to advise us regarding the
plebiscite."
Telegrams between Indian & Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Nehru’s telegram to
Pakistan Prime Minister
on November 4, 1947
"I wish to draw your attention to broadcast on
Kashmir which I made last evening. I have stated
our Government’s policy and made it clear that
we have no desire to impose our will on Kashmir
but to leave final decision to the people of
Kashmir.
I further stated that we have agreed on
impartial International agency like U.N.
supervising any referendum".
"This principle we are prepared to apply to any
state where there is a dispute about accession.
If these principles are accepted by your
Government there should be no difficulty in
giving effect to them".
Telegrams between Indian & Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Nehru’s telegram to
Pakistan Prime Minister
on November 21, 1947
"Kashmir should decide
question of accession by plebiscite or
referendum under international auspices such as
those of United Nations".
Telegrams between Indian & Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Nehru’s telegram to
Pakistan Prime Minister
on November 8, 1947
".... where the State has not
acceded to that Dominion whose majority
community is the same as State’s, the question
whether State has finally acceded to one or
other Dominion should be ascertained by
reference to the will of people".
Telegrams between Indian & Pakistan
Copy to Pakistan Prime Minister
Telegram from Jawaharlal Nehru to British Prime
Minister, Clement Attlee on October 26, 1947
For Prime Minister United Kingdom from Prime
Minister India.
A grave situation has developed in the State of
Kashmir. Large numbers of Afridis and other
tribesmen from Frontier have invaded State
territory, occupied several towns and massacred
large numbers of non-Muslims. According to our
information tribesmen have been equipped with
motor transport and also with automatic weapons
and have passed through Pakistan territory.
Latest news is that the invaders are proceeding
up the Jhelum valley road towards the valley of
Kashmir.
2. We have received Urgent appeal for assistance
from Kashmir Government. We would be disposed to
give favourable consideration to such request
from any friendly State. Kashmir's Northern
frontiers, as you are aware, run in common with
those of three countries, Afghanistan, the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics and China.
Security of Kashmir, which must depend upon
control of internal tranquility and existence of
stable Government, is vital to security of India
especially since part of Southern boundary of
Kashmir and India are common. Helping Kashmir,
therefore is an obligation of national interest
to India. We are giving urgent consideration to
question as to what assistance we can given to
State to defend itself.
3. I should like to make it clear that question
of aiding Kashmir in this emergency is not
designed in any way to influence the State to
accede to India. Our view which we have
repeatedly made public is that the question of
accession in any disputed territory or State
must be decided in accordance with wishes of
people and we adhere to this view. It is quite
clear, however, that no free expression of will
of people of Kashmir is possible if external
aggression succeeds in imperiling integrity of
its territory.
4. I have thought it desirable to inform you of
situation because of its threat of international
complications. Ends.
Telegrams between Indian & Pakistan
Telegram from Jawaharlal Nehru to
Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan on October 28,
1947
For Mr Liaquat Ali Khan from Jawaharlal
Nehru.
I have communicated to you text of telegram I
sent to Prime Minister, United Kingdom,
regarding Kashmir situation. I have also sent
you text of correspondence between
Governor-General, India, and Maharaja of Kashmir
regarding accession of Kashmir State to Indian
Union. I have sent a further message to Prime
Minister, U.K., informing him of imminent peril
of Srinagar and Kashmir from raiders and of
action we have taken to give protection to
people there. I want to invite your Government's
cooperation in stopping the raiders entering
Kashmir territory from Pakistan. These raids
have already resulted in large-scale death and
destruction and if they are not stopped
immediately will lead to ruin of Kashmir. The
consequences of success of such irresponsible
raiders anywhere will be far-reaching all over
India. Therefore, in interest of both Pakistan
and India, such raids must be stopped. As
raiders come across Pakistan territory it should
be possible to stop them there. I wish to assure
you that action Government of India has taken
has been forced upon them by circumstances and
imminent and grave danger to Srinagar. They have
no desire to intervene in affairs of Kashmir
State after raiders have been driven away and
law and order established. In regard to
accession also it has been made clear that this
is subject to reference to people of State and
their decision. Government of India have no
desire to impose any decision and will abide by
people's wishes, but those cannot be ascertained
till peace and law and order prevail. Protection
of Kashmir from armed raids thus becomes first
objective and in this we trust we shall have
your cooperation.
Telegrams between Pakistan & UK
Telegram from Pakistan
Prime Minister to Indian Prime Minister on
October 30, 1947
For Pandit Nehru from Liaquat Ali Khan.
I have received your telegrams including
that of October 28th to which I reply. The
position is that Sikh attacks on Muslims in East
Punjab in August greatly inflamed feeling
throughout Pakistan and it was only with
greatest difficulty that Pakistan tribes were
prevented from entering West Punjab to take
revenge on Hindus and Sikhs there. Later when
Muslims in Poonch were attacked and those in
Jammu massacred by mobs led by Kashmir State
forces and when it was evident that there was to
be a repetition in Kashmir of what happened in
East Punjab it became impossible wholly to
prevent tribes from entering that State without
using troops who would have created a situation
on the Frontier that might well have got out of
control.
Your recent action of sending troops to Kashmir
on pretext of accession has made things
infinitely worse. The whole of the Frontier is
stirring and feeling of resentment among tribes
is intense. The responsibility for what is
happening is entirely yours. There was no
trouble in Poonch or Jammu till State troops
started killing Muslims. All along Kashmir
Government has been in close touch with you. At
the same time they ignored or refused our offers
of friendly discussions. On October 2nd I
suggested that both Pakistan and Kashmir and
mutual allegations of border raids. The Prime
Minister of Kashmir replied he was too busy.
When in spite of this we sent Shah, Joint
Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
States, to Kashmir the Prime Minister refused to
discuss with him. On October 15th the Prime
Minister of Kashmir threatened that unless we
agreed to an impartial inquiry into what was
happening he would ask for assistance to
withstand aggression on his borders. We
immediately agreed to an impartial inquiry.
Since then no more has been heard from Kashmir
of this proposal.
The Pathan raid on Kashmir did not start till
October 22nd. It is quite clear, therefore,
Kashmir's plan
Telegrams between Indian & Pakistan
Nehru's telegram to Liaqat Ali Khan
In his telegram of October
31, 1947,
to Pakistan Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan,
Nehru said:
" .... our assurance that we shall withdraw our
troops from Kashmir as soon as peace and order
are restored and leave the decision about the
future of the State to the people of the State
is not merely a pledge to your government but
also to the people of Kashmir and to the world."
Telegrams between Pakistan & UK
Telegram from Pak PM to
British PM on October 29, 1947
I thank you for your message communicated by
your High Commissioner in Karachi. The position
here is that on early morning of 27th i.e. the
day after Mr Nehru telegraphed to you, the
Indian Government sent troops to Kashmir. This
is culmination of a series of events which was
briefly as follows:
On October 2nd, and in reply to a remonstrance
from Kashmir that Pakistan was not abiding by
the Standstill Agreement regarding supply to
them by Pakistan of essential commodities, I
wired to Prime Minister explaining that failure
of these commodities to reach Kashmir was due to
dislocation of the communications due to
disturbances and assuring him that we would do
everything to ensure that Kashmir received its
supplies. I also said that we were seriously
concerned with the stories that armed Sikhs were
infiltrating into Kashmir State and again
pressed on him the necessity for representatives
of Pakistan and Kashmir jointly to consider
questions of supplies to the State and other
questions. I received a reply to the effect that
as Kashmir Government were dealing with
disturbances caused by armed men infiltrating
from Pakistan into Kashmir they were so busy
that they could not discuss matters in dispute
between us but they would do when things settled
down. Nevertheless, we sent Shah, Joint
Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to
Srinagar to decide things with Kashmir. The
Prime Minister, However, refused to have any
discussions with him and he had to leave. I also
wired denying that armed men were allowed to
infiltrate into Kashmir.
Then I telegraphically drew the attention of
Kashmir Prime Minister to State of affairs in
Poonch and on border of Sialkot District where
Muslims were being massacred by State troops. In
his reply, dated October 15th, after denying
these accusations the Prime Minister proposed
that an impartial enquiry be made into whole
affair in order to 'remove misunderstandings and
restore cordial relations' and that if this
proposal were not accepted he had no option but
to ask for assistance to withstand the
aggressiveness of people on his border. He
attributed the raid of which he complained and
failure to supply commodities as steps to coerce
Kashmir into acceding to Pakistan. I replied on
October 8th again denying accusations of raid
from Pakistan and pointing a case in which
Kashmir troops attacked a village in Pakistan
and in an encounter with police killed a Head
Constable. I said I was apprehensive that
tactics followed in East Punjab of massacring
Muslims and then driving them out were to be
followed in Kashmir. I protested against threat
to call in assistance from outside the only
object of which could be to suppress Muslims and
to enable Kashmir to accede to India by a coup
d'etat. In conclusion I agreed to his proposal
for an impartial enquiry and asked him to
nominate his representative when we would
immediately nominate ours.
On October 18th Prime Minister of Kashmir
telegraphed me repeating the charges of failure
to send supplies according to Standstill
Agreement and of allowing armed men to
infiltrate into the State. He also complained of
articles in Pakistan newspapers and telegrams
from private individuals. He drew the conclusion
that Pakistan's attitude was unfriendly, even
'inimical' and ended by saying that unless
things improved he would be justified 'in asking
for friendly assistance to prevent trespass on
fundamental rights of State'.
This telegram was also repeated to
Governor-General and published in Press. On
October 20th the Governor-General telegraphed to
the Maharaja, summarising the telegrams between
the two Governments and pointing out that threat
to call in outside help amounted almost to an
ultimatum and showed that real aim of Kashmir
Government's policy 'is to seek an opportunity
to join Indian Union through a coup d'etat". He
endorsed Kashmir Government's proposal for an
enquiry made in their telegram of October 15th
and said that impartial inquiry as also the
proposal of Pakistan Government for a meeting
between representatives of two States was an
urgent necessity. Finally he invited Maharaja to
send his Prime Minister to Karachi to discuss
recent developments in a friendly away. No
answer was received to this telegram.
There is no doubt that State troops first
attacked Muslims of Poonch. Women and children
took refuge in Pakistan and burning villages
could be seen from our border. There is no doubt
that later they set out to massacre Muslims of
Jammu. The Brigadier-in-Command of Jammu-Sialkot
border admitted to our Brigadier that his orders
were to drive out Muslims from a three-mile wide
belt and that he was doing this with automatic
weapons and mortars. There is no doubt that
armed mobs headed by State troops invaded
Pakistan on several occasions. After one of
these raids 1,760 dead bodies of Muslims were
counted near one of our villages. There are now
about one lakh of Muslim refugees from Jammu in
West Punjab.
The refusal of Kashmir to send a representative
to discuss things and to nominate a
representative for an impartial enquiry and
their failure to reply to Governor-General's
invitation to Prime Minister to come, and their
deliberate causing of disturbances in their
State by employing their troops to attack
Muslims; and the fact that by 9 a.m. on morning
of day on which Kashmir's accession was accepted
Indian air-borne troops had landed in Srinagar
clearly show the existence of a plan for
accession against the will of people possible
only by occupation of country by Indian troops.
This plan is clear form the start.
Kashmir's action cannot be based on action of
Pathans who infiltrated into Kashmir as they are
not reported to have done so till October 22nd
and correspondence with State ceased on October
20th. All that could be done short of use of
troops which would have violently disturbed
Frontier was done to prevent their going to
Kashmir.
In these circumstances Government of Pakistan
cannot recognise accession of Kashmir to Indian
Union achieved as it has been by fraud and
violence.
I welcome your proposal that I, the Prime
Minister of India and Maharaja of Kashmir should
meet to discuss mattes. A meeting for this
purpose is being held in Lahore tomorrow
attended by Governors-General and Prime
Ministers of Pakistan and India and I hope by
Maharaja and his Prime Minister. I hope we will
reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Telegrams between Pakistan & Kashmir
Telegram from Prime Minister, Kashmir state,
to Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, Sates Relations
Department, Karachi, on August 12, 1947
Jammu and Kashmir Government would welcome
Standstill Agreements with Pakistan on all
matters on which these exist at present moment
with outgoing British India Government. It is
suggested that existing arrangements should
continue pending settlement of details and
formal execution of fresh agreements.
Telegram from Foreign Secretary, Government of
Pakistan, Karachi, to Prime Minister of Jammu
and Kashmir, Srinagar on August 15, 1947
Your telegram of the 12th. The Government of
Pakistan agree to have a Standstill Agreement
with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for the
continuance of the existing arrangements pending
settlement of details and formal execution of
fresh agreements.
Telegram from Foreign Secretary to the
Government of Pakistan to the Prime Minister of
Kashmir on October 12, 1947
Men of Pakistan Army who have recently returned
from leave at their homes in Poonch report that
armed bands, which include troops, are attacking
Muslim villages in the State. Their stories are
confirmed by the large number of villages that
can be seen burning from Murree hills. The
Pakistan government are vitally interested in
the maintenance of peace on their borders, and
the welfare of Muslims in the adjoining
territories., and on those grounds alone would
be justified in asking for an assurance that
steps be taken to restore order in Poonch. 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 Pakistan
would like to be informed of the action taken.
Reply of Prime Minister of Kashmir to
Government of Pakistan on October 15, 1947
This government has ample proof of infiltration.
As is the result in every government, including
Pakistan Dominion, Military has to take action
when disturbances caused cannot adequately be
dealt with by Civil Administration. If this
action hurts anyone's feelings, Government hopes
you will agree that it is for them to help in
the task of restoration of peace. Government is
prepared to have an impartial inquiry made into
the whole affair with a view to remove
misunderstanding and to restore cordial
relations which this Government has strictly
kept in view so far even in spite of
provocations by the people across the border and
has maintained it in its true spirits. 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.
Telegram from Prime Minister of Kashmir to
Governor-General of Pakistan on October 18, 1947
Ever since August fifteenth in spite of
agreement to observe Standstill Agreement on
matters on which agreement existed on August 14
with British India, increasing difficulties have
been felt not only with regard to supplies from
West Punjab of petrol, oils, food, salt, sugar
and cloth but also in the working of the postal
system which has been most detrimental to the
people as well as the administration. Saving
Bank accounts refused to be operated, Postal
certificates not cashed. Cheques by branches
here of West Punjab Banks not honoured. Even
Imperial Bank Branches put hard to meet
obligations owing failure of remittances from
Lahore Currency Officer. Motor vehicles
registered in the State have been held at
Rawalpindi. Railway traffic from Sialkot to
Jammu has been discontinued. While the State has
offered safe passage to about one lakh Muslim
refugees from Pathankot to Sialkot, the
Rawalpindi people have murdered and wounded in
cold blood over 180 out of a party of 220
Kashmir nationals being conveyed to Kohala at
State request. People armed with modern
long-range fire arms have infiltrated in
thousands in Poonch and committed horrors on
non-Muslims, murdering, maiming and looting them
and burning their houses as well as kidnapping
women. instead cooperation asked for through
every possible local as well as provincial
authorities and Central authority, paper
promises have been made, actually followed by
more rigorous action than before. Press and
Radio of Pakistan appear actually to have been
licensed to pour volumes of fallacious, libelous
and false propaganda. Smaller feudatory States
have been prompted to threat even armed
interference into the State. Even private people
in Pakistan are allowed to wire unbearable
threats without any checks by the Pakistan
Dominion post offices. To crown all, the State
is being blamed for acts which actually are
being committed by Pakistan people. Villages are
being raided from Sialkot and in addition to
actual infiltration in Poonch. The Government
cannot but conclude that all is being done with
the knowledge and connivance of local
authorities. The Government also trusts that it
would be admitted that these acts are extremely
unfriendly if not actually bordering on
inimical. Finally the Government 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
Government 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 Government fully hope that you
would agree that it would be justified in asking
foreign friendly assistance and oppose trespass
on its fundamental rights (copy telegraphed to
Pakistan Prime Minister also).
Telegram from Governor-General, Pakistan, to
Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir on October 20,
1947
1. 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 have 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.
2. On 15th October your Prime Minister sent a
telegram to my Government making similar
allegations in the same offensive manner as have
been repeated in his telegram of 18th October
now addressed to me without waiting for the
reply for his earlier telegram from my
Government. My Government have already replied
to that telegram on the 18th October and this
reply shows clearly that your Government's
wholly one-sided and exparte allegations cannot
be supported., Since your Government have
released to the Press the telegram addressed to
me under reply, my Government have no other
course left open and have, therefore, decided to
release to the Press their reply referred to
above refuting your allegations.
3. The allegation in the telegram under reply
that the Standstill Agreement has not been
observed is entirely wrong. The difficulties
that have been felt by your administration have
arisen as a result of the widespread
disturbances in East Punjab and the disruption
of communications caused thereby particularly by
the shortage of coal. These difficulties have
been felt actually by the West Punjab Government
themselves. The difficulties with regard to
banking facilities were caused by the lack of
staff in the various banks and cannot be laid at
the door of the West Punjab Government, who have
in fact tried their best to ensure protection to
the banks. The failure of remittances from
Lahore Currency Officer has nothing to do with
the Pakistan Government since the Lahore
Currency officer is under the Reserve Bank of
India. You Government's complaints regarding
Press reports and telegrams by private persons
are also wide off the mark. Your Government do
not realize that there is no censorship in West
Bank. The complaint about local and provincial
authorities is thus wholly unfounded. It is a
travesty of the truth to call the promises of
the Central Government paper promises, as your
Government alleges. My Government adhere to
those assurances and have every intention of
carrying out the Standstill Agreement.
4. In order to remove various difficulties
relating to communications and supply of goods
my Government suggested long ago that
representatives of the Governments of Pakistan
and Kashmir should meet. That request was
ignored. 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
Government's policy. A recent instance of this
policy is the differential treatment accorded to
leaders of the Kashmir National Conference and
the Muslim Conference. On the other hand, your
Government has released Shaikh Abdullah who was
tried and convicted of high treason, removed the
ban on his colleagues and allowed the National
Conference a free field in which to carry on
their propaganda. On the other hand, Mr Ghulam
Abbas and his colleagues whose alleged offence
was only that they disobeyed the order banning
the meeting of the Muslim Conference are still
rotting in jail and the Muslim Conference
organization is not allowed its elementary right
of civil liberties. 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 real aim of
your Government's policy is to seek an
opportunity to join the Indian Dominion through
a coup d'etat by securing the intervention and
assistance of that Dominion. This policy is
naturally creating deep resentment and grave
apprehension among your subjects 85 per cent of
whom are Muslims.
5. The proposal made by my Government for a
meeting with your accredited representatives is
now an urgent necessity. I suggest that the way
to smooth out difficulties and adjust matters in
a friendly way is for your Prime Minister to
come to Karachi and discuss the developments
that have taken place instead of carrying on
acrimonious and bitter controversy by telegrams
and correspondence. I would also repeat that I
endorse the suggestion made in your Prime
Minister's telegram of 15th October and accepted
by my Government in their reply of 18th October
to have an impartial inquiry made into the whole
affair.
Telegram from Prime Minister, Kashmir state,
to Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, Sates Relations
Department, Karachi, on August 12, 1947
Jammu and Kashmir Government would welcome
Standstill Agreements with Pakistan on all
matters on which these exist at present moment
with outgoing British India Government. It is
suggested that existing arrangements should
continue pending settlement of details and
formal execution of fresh agreements.
Telegram from Foreign Secretary, Government
of Pakistan, Karachi, to Prime Minister of Jammu
and Kashmir, Srinagar on August 15, 1947
Your telegram of the 12th. The Government of
Pakistan agree to have a Standstill Agreement
with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for the
continuance of the existing arrangements pending
settlement of details and formal execution of
fresh agreements.
Telegram from Foreign Secretary to the
Government of Pakistan to the Prime Minister of
Kashmir on October 12, 1947
Men of Pakistan Army who have recently returned
from leave at their homes in Poonch report that
armed bands, which include troops, are attacking
Muslim villages in the State. Their stories are
confirmed by the large number of villages that
can be seen burning from Murree hills. The
Pakistan government are vitally interested in
the maintenance of peace on their borders, and
the welfare of Muslims in the adjoining
territories., and on those grounds alone would
be justified in asking for an assurance that
steps be taken to restore order in Poonch. 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 Pakistan
would like to be informed of the action taken.
Reply of Prime Minister of Kashmir to
Government of Pakistan on October 15, 1947
This government has ample proof of infiltration.
As is the result in every government, including
Pakistan Dominion, Military has to take action
when disturbances caused cannot adequately be
dealt with by Civil Administration. If this
action hurts anyone's feelings, Government hopes
you will agree that it is for them to help in
the task of restoration of peace. Government is
prepared to have an impartial inquiry made into
the whole affair with a view to remove
misunderstanding and to restore cordial
relations which this Government has strictly
kept in view so far even in spite of
provocations by the people across the border and
has maintained it in its true spirits. 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.
Telegram from Prime Minister of Kashmir to
Governor-General of Pakistan on October 18, 1947
Ever since August fifteenth in spite of
agreement to observe Standstill Agreement on
matters on which agreement existed on August 14
with British India, increasing difficulties have
been felt not only with regard to supplies from
West Punjab of petrol, oils, food, salt, sugar
and cloth but also in the working of the postal
system which has been most detrimental to the
people as well as the administration. Saving
Bank accounts refused to be operated, Postal
certificates not cashed. Cheques by branches
here of West Punjab Banks not honoured. Even
Imperial Bank Branches put hard to meet
obligations owing failure of remittances from
Lahore Currency Officer. Motor vehicles
registered in the State have been held at
Rawalpindi. Railway traffic from Sialkot to
Jammu has been discontinued. While the State has
offered safe passage to about one lakh Muslim
refugees from Pathankot to Sialkot, the
Rawalpindi people have murdered and wounded in
cold blood over 180 out of a party of 220
Kashmir nationals being conveyed to Kohala at
State request. People armed with modern
long-range fire arms have infiltrated in
thousands in Poonch and committed horrors on
non-Muslims, murdering, maiming and looting them
and burning their houses as well as kidnapping
women. instead cooperation asked for through
every possible local as well as provincial
authorities and Central authority, paper
promises have been made, actually followed by
more rigorous action than before. Press and
Radio of Pakistan appear actually to have been
licensed to pour volumes of fallacious, libelous
and false propaganda. Smaller feudatory States
have been prompted to threat even armed
interference into the State. Even private people
in Pakistan are allowed to wire unbearable
threats without any checks by the Pakistan
Dominion post offices. To crown all, the State
is being blamed for acts which actually are
being committed by Pakistan people. Villages are
being raided from Sialkot and in addition to
actual infiltration in Poonch. The Government
cannot but conclude that all is being done with
the knowledge and connivance of local
authorities. The Government also trusts that it
would be admitted that these acts are extremely
unfriendly if not actually bordering on
inimical. Finally the Government 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
Government 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 Government fully hope that you
would agree that it would be justified in asking
foreign friendly assistance and oppose trespass
on its fundamental rights (copy telegraphed to
Pakistan Prime Minister also).
Telegram from Governor-General, Pakistan, to
Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir on October 20,
1947
1. 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 have 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.
2. On 15th October your Prime Minister sent a
telegram to my Government making similar
allegations in the same offensive manner as have
been repeated in his telegram of 18th October
now addressed to me without waiting for the
reply for his earlier telegram from my
Government. My Government have already replied
to that telegram on the 18th October and this
reply shows clearly that your Government's
wholly one-sided and exparte allegations cannot
be supported., Since your Government have
released to the Press the telegram addressed to
me under reply, my Government have no other
course left open and have, therefore, decided to
release to the Press their reply referred to
above refuting your allegations.
3. The allegation in the telegram under reply
that the Standstill Agreement has not been
observed is entirely wrong. The difficulties
that have been felt by your administration have
arisen as a result of the widespread
disturbances in East Punjab and the disruption
of communications caused thereby particularly by
the shortage of coal. These difficulties have
been felt actually by the West Punjab Government
themselves. The difficulties with regard to
banking facilities were caused by the lack of
staff in the various banks and cannot be laid at
the door of the West Punjab Government, who have
in fact tried their best to ensure protection to
the banks. The failure of remittances from
Lahore Currency Officer has nothing to do with
the Pakistan Government since the Lahore
Currency officer is under the Reserve Bank of
India. You Government's complaints regarding
Press reports and telegrams by private persons
are also wide off the mark. Your Government do
not realize that there is no censorship in West
Bank. The complaint about local and provincial
authorities is thus wholly unfounded. It is a
travesty of the truth to call the promises of
the Central Government paper promises, as your
Government alleges. My Government adhere to
those assurances and have every intention of
carrying out the Standstill Agreement.
4. In order to remove various difficulties
relating to communications and supply of goods
my Government suggested long ago that
representatives of the Governments of Pakistan
and Kashmir should meet. That request was
ignored. 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
Government's policy. A recent instance of this
policy is the differential treatment accorded to
leaders of the Kashmir National Conference and
the Muslim Conference. On the other hand, your
Government has released Shaikh Abdullah who was
tried and convicted of high treason, removed the
ban on his colleagues and allowed the National
Conference a free field in which to carry on
their propaganda. On the other hand, Mr Ghulam
Abbas and his colleagues whose alleged offence
was only that they disobeyed the order banning
the meeting of the Muslim Conference are still
rotting in jail and the Muslim Conference
organization is not allowed its elementary right
of civil liberties. 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 real aim of
your Government's policy is to seek an
opportunity to join the Indian Dominion through
a coup d'etat by securing the intervention and
assistance of that Dominion. This policy is
naturally creating deep resentment and grave
apprehension among your subjects 85 per cent of
whom are Muslims.
5. The proposal made by my Government for a
meeting with your accredited representatives is
now an urgent necessity. I suggest that the way
to smooth out difficulties and adjust matters in
a friendly way is for your Prime Minister to
come to Karachi and discuss the developments
that have taken place instead of carrying on
acrimonious and bitter controversy by telegrams
and correspondence. I would also repeat that I
endorse the suggestion made in your Prime
Minister's telegram of 15th October and accepted
by my Government in their reply of 18th October
to have an impartial inquiry made into the whole
affair.
1953 Nov 10 - Nehru's letter to Pak PM
Indian Prime Minister Nehru’s letter to
Pakistan Prime Minister on November 10, 1953
"You refer to the question of regional
plebiscite. I can only repeat what I endeavoured
to put before you when we met. Our object is to
give freedom to the people of Kashmir to decide
their future in a peaceful way so as to create
no upset, as we said in our joint statement...
"Therefore, I had suggested that the plebiscite
should be for the State as a whole and the
detailed result of the plebiscite would then be
the major factor for the decision to be taken.
The detailed result will give us a fairly clear
indication of the wishes of the people not only
in the state as whole but in different areas."
1953 Sept 3 - Nehru's letter to Pak PM
Indian Prime Minister Nehru's letter to
Pakistan Prime Minister on September 3, 1953.
"... We suggested the salutary rule that the
Plebiscite Administrator should be chosen from
some small and more or less neutral country of
Asia or Europe. There are many such countries
and there should be no difficulty in finding an
eminent and impartial person from among them.
"As a result of the plebiscite over the entire
state, we would be in a position to consider the
matter, so that the final decision should cause
the least disturbance and should take into
consideration geographical, economic and other
important factors.
"I should like to make it clear that there is no
intention on my part to exclude the UN from this
question of Kashmir. The Plebiscite
Administrator would function under UN
supervision but it seems to me quite obvious
that while the UN can be helpful, any settlement
must depend upon the consent and co-operation of
India and Pakistan. Therefore, it is for us to
agree and not to look to the UN to produce some
settlement, without our agreement.
"... If we aim, as we must, at closer and
co-operative relationship between India and
Pakistan, we must find a solution of the Kashmir
problem which is not only satisfactory to the
people as a whole there but is also achieved
without bitterness and sense of continuing wrong
to India or Pakistan.
"... Obviously, the Kashmir problem is of high
importance; in some way the most important
problem before us, and we must tackle it".
2001 Jun 27 - Aulakh's letter to Musharraf
From: Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,
President of the Council of Khalistan,
a Washington-based Think-Tank for national
self-determination of
all Sikhs in East Punjab, Khalistan:
June 27, 2001
The Honorable General Pervez Musharraf
President of Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
Dear President Musharraf:
On behalf of the Sikh Nation, I congratulate you
on becoming President of Pakistan. We hope and
pray that this step will be useful for the
people of Pakistan, the Sikhs and the people of
South Asia.
Soon you will be visiting India. We sincerely hope that your
visit will go well and will be productive to the
cause of peace and freedom in South Asia.While
you are in India, I urge you to visit the Golden
Temple in Amritsar. The Sikhs who visited
Nankana Sahib last fall were so well treated
that we know you are a friend of the Sikh
Nation. Your visit to the Golden Temple will
enhance your friendship with the Sikh Nation.You
are aware that India divided Pakistan through a
war and created the nation of Bangladesh. You
are also aware that India promised in 1948 to
hold a plebiscite on the future of Kashmir.
Fifty-three years later, that plebiscite has
still not been held.
The people of Punjab, Khalistan, also seek their freedom, and
General Javed Nasir has endorsed the achievement
of Khalistan by peaceful means.In addition,
there are freedom movements in Nagalim, Tamil
Nadu, Assam, Manipur and other nations under
Indian occupation. Self-determination is the
birthright of all peoples and nations. Support
for the freedom movements within India's borders
would also be in Pakistan's interest, as well as
the interest of peace, freedom and stability in
South Asia. In addition, it would help to
prevent another war between India and
Pakistan.India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs
since 1984, more than 75,000 Kashmiri-Muslims
since 1988, over 200,000 Christians in Nagaland
since 1947, and tens of thousands of Dalits,
Tamils, Manipuris, Assamese and others.It has
admitted to holding over 52,000 Sikh political
prisoners without charge or trial.
Recently in Kashmir, Muslim and Sikh villagers caught a group of
Indian soldiers trying to burn down a Gurdwara
and overpowered them. Is this the way of "the
world's largest democracy"? Add to this the fact
that India started the nuclear arms race in
South Asia with their nuclear tests.
India is a destabilizing and repressive country seeking
hegemony in the subcontinent.President Musharraf,
I urge you to support the freedom movements in
Kashmir, Khalistan, Nagaland and all the other
nations seeking their freedom from India. I urge
you to press the Indian Government on this issue
and urge them to hold a free and fair plebiscite
on the question of independence, monitored by
the international community. This would go a
long way towards establishing stability, peace
and freedom in South Asia.
Sincerely,
Dr. GURMIT SINGH AULAKH
President
Council of Khalistan
1901 Pennsylvania NW, Suite 802,
Washington, DC 20006 USA
Phone: 202-833-3262
Fax: 202-452-9161
E-Mail: khalistan@k...
Website: http://www.Khalistan.com
