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| Myths of accession of J&K victory India, advantage Pakistan | | | Col (Retd) J P Singh | 10/25/2010 10:42:54 PM |
| In the undivided India there were 562 Princely States. On 12 May 1946 the Cabinet Mission presented a Memorandum to the Chancellor of Princes in India, defining their future status on the eve of division of British India in two Sovereign independent Dominions. All these states would technically become independent entities with the option of joining either of the Dominion at the discretion of the ruler concerned. There was no provision, let alone any compulsion, or even a modicum of necessity for the ruler to consult their subjects in the matter of Accession. The ruler of the state had absolute powers in this regards and his signatures on the dotted lines of Instrument of Accession was all that was needed to decide the merger one way or the other. Mr. Jinnah, a legal luminary also had stated on 30th July 1947, “the legal position is that with the lapse of Paramountcy on the transfer of power by the British, all the Indian States should automatically regain their full sovereign and independent status. They are therefore free to join either of the two Dominions or remain independent. The Muslim League recognizes the right of each state to choose its destiny.”
It was only Pt Nehru, who in his exceptional benign posturing introduced a surprise element of ascertaining the will of the people as an exception in case of J&K, which continues to haunt the nation. In fact he went out of his way to stress this point of impropriety probably to raise his international standing as a democratic statesman. On 4th October 1948 during the thick of the battle, he wrote to the Prime Minister of Pakistan stating that he will fully cooperate in allowing the will of the people to prevail in finding a peaceful and honourable solution to the Kashmir problem; a great advantage in favour of Pakistan to keep the pot boiling. Ironically this high victory stand was climbed at the cost of own national propriety and sovereignty.
Geographical contiguity was one of the key factor in deciding the matter of accession of any princely state to one Dominion or the other and so was it for J&K. Redcliff Commision appointed to demarcate boundaries between India and Pakistan was to announce its award 3 days before partition but it was deliberately delayed and made public 3 days after the independence. Three Eastern Tehsils of Gurdaspur District were awarded to India which provided vital land link to J&K, Kulu, Dharmsala, Manali, Lahul and Spiti. It provided geographical contiguity to the State of Jammu & Kashmir with India and hence influenced the decision of merger. This land link probably was the single most crucial element in chartering the future course of politico military events in the sub continent. Accession was a great political and moral victory for secular India which willy-nilly offered great strategic advantage to Pakistan which she continues to exploit as aggrieved party to get enormous military and economic aid from the West; partially being used for Tallibanisation of Afghanistan and Kashmir.
On 15 august 1947 the state of Jammu and Kashmir became independent country with Maharaja Hari Singh as absolute ruler. Even before Pakistan came into being, certain political and military elements of would be Pakistan had started formulating plans for annexing Jammu and Kashmir through a tribal invasion backed by Pakistan Army in disguise which is against Geneva Convention; towards which Indian govt kept the eyes shut. On the night of 20 /21 October 1947 Pakistan launched full scale tribal invasion on the state under the misconceived notion that entire population of the state was against the Maharaja and wanted to join Pakistan and it was projected to the world as such. Nothing could be farther from truth because thousands of Muslims in the govt, the State Forces and the National Conference besides the inhabitants of Baramula faced the raiders, braved the death and beat back their invasion and earned the gratitude of grateful nation; though it remained an unharvested victory by secular India.
The invaders struck Kashmir at 4.30 AM on 22 October and by 24th they had captured Uri and Mahura Power House ushering an era of plunder and darkness. The marauding hordes of Pathan invaders halted at Baramula for leisurely ransacking the town and raping beautiful girls and Nuns. Maharaja decided to accede to India to protect life, property and honour of his subjects. The instrument of accession was accepted by the govt of India on 26 October 1947. It was decided to quickly dispatch Indian Army to save the state from the vagaries of raiders and to recover the areas captured by them. British seemed to have created two nations to remain at war after their birth because they were still commanding armies on both sides and were witness to the unprecedented communal riots prior partition. By 7th November Srinagar had been declared reasonably safe. By 10 November 1947 Uri was captured. When 161 Infantry Brigade under Brig L P Sen was chasing the retreating enemy towards Domel, he received an order NO FURTHER ADVANCE BEYOND URI. From the military point of view it was most unsound tactical order to not to carry on the pursuit relentlessly when the enemy was on the run. Brig Sen requested for permission to continue advance towards Domel and capture Domel which would keep the enemy at arms length from Uri. This suggestion was not accepted. It was virtually impossible to remonstrate this order since it had originated from Delhi as a result of decision taken at the highest level of the govt. Capture of Domel which could have solved the Kashmir problem in one go once and for all was not considered to be the objective instead political considerations and personal preferences prevailed. Successful military pursuit was halted to the advantage of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Nehru, imbued with idealism of world peace and vision of world statesmanship stood on the high moral grounds by approaching UNO to get justice for India’s cause and claim over Kashmir. Instead of clinching the issue once and for all militarily by enlarging the field of counter offensive when the enemy was on the run, he was swayed by the machinations of British advisors and agreed to sue for peace without fighting a war. As per defence analysts we could have at least captured Mirpur-Kotli Belt and occupied Haji Pir Pass before offering a ceasefire. The advantage of Himalayan blunder has gone in favour of Pakistan. This was Nehru-Menon style of world diplomacy. This proves that we Indian are by nature generous to the enemy even though past history has proved us wrong many a times. But Indian leadership continues to be incorrigible perhaps because of inbuilt generosity syndrome of seeing victory in defeat. That is why they rarely and mutely talk about recovering illegally occupied areas.
In June 1948 UN ordered the Army to stop all offensive operations in the entire state. It is noteworthy that out of total area of 86.000 Sq Miles that constituted the State of Jammu and Kashmir at the time of its accession only 53,600 sq miles remains with India leaving nearly 33,000 sq miles under the control of Pakistan which comes to more than 1/3rd. Enforcement of ceasefire and accepting it as a victory without consultations with the field commanders and without even the slightest courtesy of reference to the Ruler, was an act of wanton arrogance on the part of Pt Nehru, the Prime Minister of India for which India shall continue to pay heavy price. Latest Kargil victory at an alarming cost in men and material, many call it diplomatic defeat; has amply proved that point.
Dr. Karan Singh, MP and former Sdar-e-Riyasat has put the lid on the issue of accession by saying that ‘the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India was identical to the accession of other states and hence there is no controversy over the merger of our state with India. More over there is no question mark on its legality which could challenge it. He also made it clear that any political resolution has to be in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu & Ladakh. He has strongly recommended recovering illegally occupied areas and its integration with the state.’ This clarification having come from sacred place of Jia Pota Akhnoor where the foundation of the state was jointly laid by Maharaja Ranjit Singh & Raja Gulab Singh from none other than Dr Karan Singh should put the nation at ease once and for all despite the special status and 370. The State is an integral part of India, he clarified unambiguously which deprives Pakistan of political leverage. In addition Maj Gen G S Jamwal, ex MLC in an article in Daily Excelsior on the same day under the heading “Gulab Singh to Rajinder Singh: A Gratitude” has made revealing references to the defence and accession; progress and prosperity as well as the opportunities the nation provides to the youth by which ordinary Indians excelled in CWG. He has made useful suggestions for the prosperity of unhappy youths of the valley. Interlocutors should take cue from these assertions. From here onwards the efforts should be to fully integrate the smaller separatist segments in the main stream by making the Switzerland of the East as Silicon valley of India as suggested by Gen Jamwal.
We know for certain that moment India talks about vacation of illegally occupied areas, Pakistan cries loud of danger of imminent Indian aggression and gets more aid and attention. Hence the issue is a tight rope walk for India. It is a bone stuck in Indian throat which she can neither spit nor swallow. Yet the wisdom lies in such diplomacy by which a bilateral discussion on the issue is initiated. Dr Karan Singh has rightly said “why not discuss the area occupied by Pakistan”
( Author can be accessed at [email protected])
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