Karachi Agreement of 28 April 1949 between Azad Kashmir and Pakistan
government.
Speech of Dr Shabir Choudhry in a Conference arranged by JK National
Awami Party in Leeds on 28 April 2018.
Mr President, Friends and colleagues Aslam o Alaykam to all of you.
Sardar Ibrahim and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas were the two people who signed
this infamous Agreement with government of Pakistan, which is regarded by some
citizens of Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘Document of Slavery’.
Both of them have been criticised and condemned by many people of Azad
Kashmir, and people of Gilgit Baltistan; and hold them responsible for our
problems and miseries, especially for miseries of the people of Gilgit
Baltistan who were ruled by Pakistan with an iron fist.
I am also among those who have criticised them both, as well as the
imperialist policies of government of Pakistan.
All those people who have made some contribution to the history have
been controversial; and are criticised. I am also controversial and will always
be a controversial person, because I have exposed some historical myths and
challenged the forces of occupation and imperialism.
When we analyse a role of a person, we should see him in historical
perspective. We should see the geo political and prevailing situation of that
time. What Sardar Ibrahim and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas did in 1947/9, we are
analysing that in 2018.
A famous saying is: Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We are viewing the
events of late 1940s with benefit of knowledge we have today. Those who took
those controversial decisions did not have this knowledge. They were influenced
by the geo political situation of that time; and took decisions which are wrong
in our view; and had very negative impact on us; and we continue to suffer.
Mr Chairman, role
of Sardar Ibrahim Khan in 1947
Before the partition of India and
forced division of Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Ibrahim Khan was an employ of
State of Jammu and Kashmir. He had oath of allegiance to the Maharaja and the
State, that he will serve them honestly and sincerely.
People have a right to disagree with me, but in my opinion, role of
Sardar Ibrahim Khan in the events of 1947 was that of a collaborator. He
invited and helped the Pakistani raiders who wanted to capture State of Jammu
and Kashmir. This unprovoked attack by Pakistan resulted in death of tens of
thousands of innocent people, rapes and kidnapping of women of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Those who arranged this attack, did not do anything in Gilgit at that
time. Do you know why? Because they thought the raiders will capture Srinagar.
If Srinagar had been captured, then there was no need to attack Gilgit. When
the conspirators realised that their designs to capture Kashmir and Srinagar
have been foiled; then they activated their plan B. They wanted to capture
strategic areas of Gilgit Baltistan. Remember, areas of Gilgit were leased out
to the British in 1935.
On first November 1947, they implemented their plan B, and arrested
Brigadier Gansara Singh. Just like the Muslim army units betrayed the Maharaja
Hari Singh in Muzaffarabad region, Muslim units stationed in Gilgit region also
betrayed him; and joined hands with those who wanted to end his rule. Once
again, many people betrayed their oaths and sided with those who were enemies
of the Maharaja Hari Singh and his rule.
Mr Chairman, we should also look at the role
of the local leadership of Gilgit Baltistan
People of Gilgit Baltistan claim they ‘liberated
Gilgit’ on 1 November 1947. After liberating these areas what did they do? They
contacted a neighbouring country – Pakistan - for help to run the
administration of these areas.
When the Maharaja Hari Singh was attacked by Pakistan, he contacted a
neighbouring country – India for a military help. Liberators of Gilgit
Baltistan did not fear any military attack from anywhere; yet they contacted
Pakistan for help. In return, Pakistan sent a low ranking civil servant to
Gilgit to run affairs of these areas; and these ‘rebels’ and ‘liberators’
surrendered everything before him.
He taught them lessons which they will remember for many generations. He
denied them fundamental human rights and treated them like slaves; but they did
not rebel against him. Is it because this time the oppressor was a Muslim; and
Muslims of today only rebel against non-Muslims?
Mr Chairman, we have to see if Sardar Ibrahim Khan and Chaudhry Ghulam
Abbas are responsible for suffering of the people of Gilgit Baltistan?
The point I am trying to establish is that Sardar Ibrahim Khan and
Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas had no role in the events of Gilgit Baltistan. Their
role, on papers, started on 28 April 1949.
Question I want to ask is, were the people of Gilgit Baltistan
independent; and enjoying fruits of their independence before signing of this
agreement?
Answer to this question is no. They were treated like sub human beings
and ruled very harshly. In other words, Sardar Ibrahim Khan and Chaudhry Ghulam
Abbas had no direct role or influence on the problems and suffering of the
people of Gilgit Baltistan.
One can say, they were suffering because they asked Pakistan to send
someone to rule them or help them to administer the region. It is a same
mistake which people of Kashmir made when they asked government of Afghanistan
to send a new Ruler to Kashmir.
So how can we blame Sardar Ibrahim and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas for the
wrong doings of a Pakistani ruler, who was invited by the people of Gilgit
Baltistan?
One can say, by signing the Karachi Agreement they ‘legitimised’ the
Pakistani rule and everything they have done since that date.
Also, they have given unchallengeable powers in the hands of Pakistan to
rule so called Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan as it suits Pakistani policy
makers.
We can criticise them and condemn them for signing the Karachi
Agreement. Ask yourself, if rulers of Gilgit Baltistan and so called Azad
Kashmir have no choice but to sign on the dotted line in 2018, did Sardar
Ibrahim Khan and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas had any other choice available to them
in 1949?
Just imagine if they had refused to sign it, then what would have
happened to them? They could have been imprisoned or hanged with accusation of
treason; and for being anti Pakistan and agents of India.
Don’t you think books of Pakistan studies, history books of Pakistan and
syllabus in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan would have called them traitors,
agents of India and enemies of Pakistan.
Even in 2018, leaders and many people of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan
are so terrified that they are reluctant to say anything which can annoy
Pakistan and their secret agencies because they don’t want to be accused of
being anti Pakistan and agent of India.
Just imagine what would be the situation in late 1940s? Could anyone
have survived with the tag of being anti Pakistan and agent of India in 1940s
and 1950s?
Mr Chairman, I have not tried to defend Sardar Ibrahim Khan and Chaudhry
Ghulam Abbas. I have only tried to provide you an alternative narrative and a
situation in which they had to sign the Karachi Agreement.
Many Pakistanis claim that Jammu and Kashmir belongs to them because of
the Two Nations Theory, even though this did not apply to the Princely States.
However, Pakistan concluded a Standstill Agreement with the Ruler of Jammu and
Kashmir State in August 1947, and accepted that he was an independent Ruler
with a power to decide about future of his State.
On 28 April 1949, by signing the Karachi Agreement, the Government of
Pakistan, once again, accepted that the former Princely State of Jammu and
Kashmir did not belong to Pakistan. When analysing the Karachi Agreement, we
should look at all the aspects of this treaty.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, I want to remind the audience that Sardar
Ibrahim Khan, has more than once stated that he did not sign the Karachi
Agreement. Once in London, he said, I have made many mistakes in my political
life, but believe me, I did not sign the Karachi Agreement.
Only Allah knows, if this is true or not. Despite all the loyalty he
expressed to Pakistan, when he differed with them he was imprisoned by
Pakistan. Before we curse and condemn leaders of the past, we need to
understand what was the prevailing situation under which they had to take those
decisions.
If we were in their position, under that highly charged Hindu verses
Muslim situation; and with all the vulnerabilities they faced, would we have
done differently? Should we not be condemning the government which created all
these problems for us; and deprived us of our fundamental rights.
Also, we need to understand that they belonged to a different
ideological school; and did what they thought was right for the Muslims of
Jammu and Kashmir at that time.
In my view, it was a wrong decision. My struggle is for people of all
religions and for all the regions. I promote nationalism based on principle of
justice and equality for all the citizens of the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
and not for only Muslims.
I do not promote Muslim nationalism under the garb of Jammu and Kashmir
nationalism.
Thank you, Mr Chairman.
Writer
is a renowned writer and author of many books. He is also a senior leader of
UKPNP and Chairman South Asia Watch, London.
