Pakistan used non-State actors in Kashmir in 1947
Dr Shabir Choudhry 31 March
2018
No matter what critics say, bitter fact is that people of Jammu and
Kashmir are a confused lot. They are more confused and divided now than they
were in 1947.
Pakistani sponsored ‘jihad’ in Jammu and Kashmir started in 1947; and
despite death of tens of thousands of innocent people it has not ended yet. All
the signs are that because of Pakistani obsession to capture Kashmir at any
cost, this ‘jihad’, bloodshed and destruction will continue.
Leaving aside the thinking and wisdom of those who oppose unity and
independence of the divided State; to me it is sad to note that even many nationalists
of Jammu and Kashmir who are apparently endeavouring for unification and
independence of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir have failed to
shun their communal thinking.
They claim the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir, yet they miss no
opportunity to criticise and belittle the Maharaja Hari Singh who was also a
great nationalist; and who tried his level best to protect and enhance the
interests of people and the State. Some of us, demand restoration of the State
Subject Ordinance, which shows wisdom and nationalism of the Maharaja Hari
Singh, but don’t regard themselves as citizens of the divided State.
Some accuse him of being a communal Ruler; and others call him inept and
cowherd. Some others claim his right to rule Jammu and Kashmir ended in 1946,
because, to them, the State was on lease for 100 years. It is sad that these
social media scholars, with communal thinking provide no evidence to support
their contention; and as a result, their fairy tales only add to the confusion
of the people and divide us further.
The plot gets comical when some ‘Socrates’ claim that the Maharaja Hari
Singh was deposed by a man called Ghulam Nabi Gilkar, who used a fake name of
Anwer to issue a statement from Rawalpindi; and appointed himself as a President
of Jammu and Kashmir. On strength of this statement published in Pakistani
Military and Civil Gazette, these ‘Socrates’ claim that Maharaja Hari Singh’s
right to rule was ended on 4 October 1947.
With no disrespect to the struggle of those who stood up against
injustice and heavy taxes of the Maharaja, especially against Muslim subjects,
it is imperative to dismiss this false propaganda, which says:
‘after the Maharaja was deposed
and a revolutionary government came into existence; the Azad Kashmir Army (this
government and army did not exist on grounds in first week of October) invaded
all the areas of what are part of so called Azad Kashmir and was knocking at
the doors of Srinagar, when Pakistan in order to stab the independence of Jammu
and Kashmir established a government of Azad Kashmir on 24 October 1947’.
Anyway, leaving aside these fairy tales spread by imaginary ‘warriors’
of famous fiction writer Nasim Ijazi to boost morale of the Muslims of South
Asia; facts provided by some Pakistani writers tell us a different story.
A Pakistani army officer, Major Agha
Humayun Amin, in his book ‘The 1947 -48 Kashmir War – The war of lost
opportunities’, writes:
‘The Muslim League high command had asked Mian Iftikhar Ud Din, Minister
for Refugees to prepare a plan aimed at ensuring that the Muslim majority State
of Kashmir should join Pakistan. Brigadier Akbar Khan then serving in the
Pakistan GHQ wrote an appreciation ‘Armed Revolt Inside Kashmir’ on Mian
Iftikhar Ud Din’s request. It appears that Mr
Jinnah had tasked Liaquat to Handle the Kashmir business.’ 1
According to Major Agha Humayun Amin,
there were three principal parties in the whole invasion affair of Jammu and
Kashmir.
1/ Senior Muslim League leaders like
Sardar Shaukat Ayat and former Major Iftikhar Ud Din who were ‘ordered by Mr
Jinnah to do something to help Kashmiri Muslims.
2/ Khurshid Anwar (and army officers
like Brigadier Akbar Khan and Indian National Army officers.
3/ The tribesmen. 2
Major General Akbar Khan in his book, ‘Raiders
in Kashmir’, writes that two weeks after the partition of India and creation of
Pakistan, he went to Murree to start his work. This is where he met some Muslim
Conference leaders, including Sardar Ibrahim Khan.
When this most important military
assignment was given to him, Akbar Khan was Brigadier and posted as Director of
Weapons and Equipment at GHQ of Pakistan. In his ‘appreciation’, Armed Revolt
inside Kashmir’, he highlighted strategic, military and economic importance of
Jammu and Kashmir. To him, if Jammu and Kashmir became part of India then India
could:
‘establish such stations anywhere
within a few miles of the 180 miles long vital road and rail route between
Lahore and Pindi. In the event of war these stations would be a dangerous
threat to our most important civil and military lines of communication. If we
were to protect this route properly, it would take a major portion of our army
to do so and we would thereby dangerously weaken our front at Lahore. If we
were to concentrate our strength at the front, we would give India the chance
to cut off Lahore, Sialkot, Gujrat and even Jhelum from our military base at
the Pindi’. 3
Major General Akbar Khan further writes that even in peace time the
situation could not be acceptable because Pakistan ‘would be permanently
exposed to a threat of such magnitude that our independence would never be a
reality’. 4
After giving details of economic importance of Jammu and Kashmir and how
Pakistan heavily relies on this he concludes:
‘Kashmir’s accession is not simply a matter of desirability but absolute
necessity for our separate existence’. 5
Those Muslim citizens of Jammu and Kashmir who are still fooled by the
Pakistani propaganda that Pakistan cares and love people of Jammu and Kashmir
should, now after 70 years, open their eyes. The Pakistani planned tribal
invasion in name of jihad was designed to protect Pakistani military, strategic
and economic interests; and welfare of the people was not their concern. In any
case, in clear violation of the Standstill Agreement and Islamic teaching, the
Pakistani government dishonoured their written agreement and attacked its weak
neighbour.
Brigadier Akbar Khan, in line with instructions of the political leaders
of the Pakistan, emphasised in his Plan that presence and involvement of the
Pakistan government must not be visible. The entire matter should be presented
as a local uprising of Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir against ‘cruel Hindu
despot’. The British Officers of the Pakistani army mustn’t know anything about
this either.
To review the Plan and finalise the matters, a meeting of senior leaders
was held in Lahore in early September which was presided by the Prime Minister
of Pakistan. Although the copies of the Plan were circulated to the
participants of the meeting, Akbar Khan had to make a presentation to the
participants, which included Liaquat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan,
Brigadier Akbar Khan, Mian Ifitikhar Ud Din, Sardar Shaukat Ayat, the Finance
Minister Ghulam Mohammed who later became Governor General of Pakistan.
In this meeting, all the details were finalised and logistics were
worked out. Shaukat Ayat was appointed overall in charge of this operation.
Ghulam Mohammed was to provide all the necessary funds. Col Azam Khanzada of
the Ordnance Cops was to take care of arms and ammunition. He even agreed to
secretly divert arms to Kashmir; and report that the ‘faulty’ equipment ‘would
be shown as dumped in the sea’.
Maharaja’s 9,000 army had approximately 2,000 Muslims which included
some officers too. The Planners of the Tribal attack agreed that these 2,000
Muslims should be persuaded to change side in name of Islam and jihad, and
fight against the Hindu Maharaja. Furthermore, it was agreed that India’s only
route – land access from Jammu should be cut off; and a strong-armed group was
selected to control the Srinagar airport to ensure that India does not fly in
troops.
Brigadier Akbar Khan also took in confidence Brigadier Sher Khan at the
GHQ who was Director Intelligence. He was to provide all the necessary
information needed for the success of the operation. Also, some former Indian
National Army officers were tasked with certain duties. Apart from that, Air
Commodore Mr Janjua agreed to use Pakistan Air Force to provide essential help
in transporting weapons, ammunition, winter clothing and tents etc. 6
According to the Plan, Major Khurshid Anwar, who was appointed by
Liaquat Ali on recommendation of Finance Minister Ghulam Mohammed, was to
command the northern force of tribesmen to attack on Muzaffarabad Srinagar axis.
Major Zaman Kiani of the Indian National Army was to ‘command the Southern
force tasked to operate against the Kathua area in South’.
Those who call the Maharaja Hari Singh cowherd, assert that his forces
could not face challenge of ‘Azad Kashmir Army’ and rebels in Muzaffarabad and
other parts of so called Azad Kashmir. Azad Kashmir Army, at that time, was
just like the 4 October government, a fairy tale.
The Maharaja’s small army, 9,000 included around 2,000 Muslims. Gilgit
Scouts was a separate military force, which was established by the British to
protect and enhance their interests, and that is exactly what they did when
they were ordered by their boss Major WA Brown on 1 November 1947.
This small army was scattered all over
the towns of Jammu and Kashmir and was not is a position to defend the State
territory. Because of the religious hatred, which engulfed the entire Indian
Sub - Continent, some advisors were sceptical about loyalty of the Muslim
soldiers of the Maharaja army.
Major Aslam Khan, an officer of State
Forces and Military Cross of Second World War also joined the tribesmen. Major
Aslam Khan was a son of Brigadier Tor Gul, who was a loyal subject of the Dogra
Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947. When around 2000 tribesmen moved from
Abbottabad the Muslim guard platoon of 4 Jammu and Kashmir Infantry also joined
the raiders.
With treachery of about two companies of
Muslim soldiers, the State troops were further weakened in areas of
Muzaffarabad; and tribesmen and rebel soldiers ‘successfully’ cleared Muzaffarabad
– Domel area by 23 October. From there on, Major Agha Humayun Amin, wrote, ‘there
was practically nothing between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar to stop the
tribesmen.’
In Baramulla, according to Major
General Akbar Khan, out of 14,000 inhabitants only 3,000 survived. The rest
perished in the first Pakistani sponsored ‘jihad’ in Jammu and Kashmir. 7
All historians, including many
Pakistani nationals agree that Baramulla was conquered on 24 October 1947; and
small army of the Maharaja was demoralised and was on the run. Muslim units of
the army on this border joined the aggressors; and helped them to commit human
rights abuses and loot and kill citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
The tribesmen and their masters could
have taken over Srinagar without any challenge. However, their priority was
different. They were busy looting, kidnapping and raping women; and celebrating
their conquest. This clearly shows so called ‘liberation’ of Kashmir was not on
their priority list.
Major Khurshid Anwar who was commanding
the tribesmen sent a messenger to negotiate a deal as to what post he was to
get once Kashmir was liberated. 8
Major Agha Humayun Amin, in his book claims that
there was also an issue
of – Crores of the Maharaja’s treasury. Major Khurshid Anwar and the Tribesmen
believed this treasure belonged to them, as according to the verbal agreement
everything that was removable was theirs. This huge amount of money was also
removable. Others thought it belonged to Pakistan as it was official treasury,
and did not belong to the public; and they were permitted to loot and plunder
everything that belonged to the people.
Some people claim Pakistan started using non - state actors to advance
their political and imperial agenda during General Zia’s time. This is not
true. Pioneer of this policy was Major General Akbar Khan, who on clear
instructions of Pakistani political leadership of that time, planned an attack
on Jammu and Kashmir by using tribesmen and some local people to capture
Kashmir. At that time, term ‘proxy war’ was not coined; but it was a proxy war,
which Pakistan started by violating a Standstill Agreement with the Maharaja of
Jammu and Kashmir.
This unprovoked and un- Islamic attack was launched in name of jihad to
capture Kashmir. It resulted in death of tens of thousands of innocent citizens
of Jammu and Kashmir. In this brutal expedition, our women were raped,
kidnapped and resulted in forced division of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan did not win the war it launched in 1947, but it developed a
military doctrine of using non-state actors to advance their foreign policy and
imperialist wars. Credit should be given to them that they successfully fooled
people of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir since 1947. They also, to a large
extent, fooled the world community; and still claim to be victims.
Despite all the pressure, their proxy war and strategy of using non-state
actors has not ended. This mean more trouble in South Asia.
References:
1.
Major Agha Humayun Amin, ‘The 1947
-48 Kashmir War – The war of lost opportunities’, page 3
2.
Ibid, page 4
3.
Raiders in Kashmir, page 9
4.
Ibid, page 10
5.
Ibid, page 10
6.
Ibid, page 19
7. Ibid page 29
8. Ibid page 38
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