30101947 Text of Telegram from the Pakistan Prime Minister to the Indian Prime Minister dated October 30, 1947

30101947 Text of Telegram from the Pakistan Prime Minister to the Indian Prime Minister dated 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 Pathan 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 the pretext of accession has made things infinitely worse. The whole of the Frontier is stirring and feelings of resentment among tribes are intense. The responsibility for what is happening is entirely vours . 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 should appoint representatives to discuss supplies to 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 the 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 about this proposal.

The Pathan raid on Kashmir did not start until October 22nd. It is quite clear, therefore, Kashmir's plan of asking for Indian troops—and it could hardly have been unilateral—was formed quite independently of this raid and all evidence and action taken shows it was pre-arranged. It would seem rather to have been made after the failure of their troops to suppress the people of Poonch and in anticipation of the reaction which they expected to their massacre of Muslims in Jammu.

I, in my turn, appeal to you to stop the Jammu killings which still continue. Yesterday West Punjab was agata invaded by a well armed mob who after a fight with villagers retreated leaving two Gurkha soldiers in uniform dead behind them. As long as this sort of thing continues, passions are bound to become further inflamed.``