31101947 Text of Telegram dated October 31, 1947 from the Indian Prime Minister to the Prime Minister of Pakistan
31101947 Text of Telegram dated October 31, 1947 from the Indian Prime Minister to the Prime Minister of Pakistan
"Your telegram No. 368-G. dated October 30th. I have repeatedly expressed to you my sentiments regarding the cycle of retaliation which has plunged West and East Punjab in tragedy. Both in public and private [ have condemned atrocities, irrespective of community of perpetrators; Sikh, Hindu or Muslim. If Hindus and Sikhs have killed or driven out Muslims in any part of Kashmir I condemn their action without reserve. I find it impossible, however, to accept either your version of causes and course of attack on Kashmir or baseless suggestion that we have sent troops to Kashmir 'on pretext of accession*. We are perfectly willing to have evil events during the last 15 months investigated to find out what have been basic causes and on whom blame rests. What has happened in Kashmir stands apart and must be judged as such more specially in view of the imminent danger of widespread disaster which Kashmir valley has had to face which would have the most far-reaching consequences in regard to relations between India and Pakistan.
2. The Government of India entirely agrees that no raids from one territory to another should take place and they must be stopped by all means at our disposal. It is patent that they have had nothing to do even remotely with occurrences in or near Kashmir State till they sent their troops to Srinagar on October 27th. Before accession Kashmir was not our responsibility even though we were greatly interested in its future. We were not consulted by the Kashmir Government about any steps they may have taken or any correspondence with you. Our knowledge of what occurred then was derived largely from statements appearing in the Press. From these statements it appears that the Kashmir Government's account is materially different from what you have given and according to them many raids have taken place from West Punjab and Jammu Province. As a matter of fact today a considerable part of Jammu Province has been occupied by raiders from West Punjab. These raiders are provided, according to reports, with most modern weapons including flame throwers. In these circumstances it is curious to State that aggression was from Kashmir State.
3. No impartial person could regard military operations which for some weeks have been in progress against Kashmir as anything other than well-organised, well-planned and the result of very careful preparation. These operations certainly did not start on October 22nd. What started on October 22nd was a raid from North-West Frontier Province. Its timing, mobility and speed are more suggestive of a concerted link between the operation which has been in progress on Kashmir's Western borders than of a sudden tribal eruption inspired by communal happenings in Punjab. In addition to this we have reliable information that regular Pakistan troops in large numbers were concentrated near the Kashmir border at Kohala as on the Jammu border and that they were prepared to enter Kashmir in the wake of raids.
4. You say that all along the Kashmir Government has been in close touch with us. You also say that Kashmir's plan of asking for Indian troops was formed quite independently of recent raids. Indeed you even suggest that the request for Indian troops was inspired by us. I repudiate both statements of alleged fact and insinuation. Until the Pathan raid started, we had no request from Kashmir State for military aid and the question was never considered by us. Some weeks ago we were told by the Kashmir Government that essential supplies had been stopped by the Pakistan Government and we were requested to send some of these essential supplies. A request was also made for arms which was referred, in common with requests from other States, to our States and Defence Ministries. This was sanctioned but as a matter of fact no arms were sent to them at all as this matter was not considered very urgent. It was al 11 p.m. on October 24th that an urgent and specific request was made to us for the 8rst time for troops to b$ sent. We considered this on the 25th in our Defence Committee and again on the 26th morning. In view of imminent peril to valley and possibility of large-scale massacres a decision was arrived at regarding accession and to send air-borne troops the next day,
27th October. You will appreciate that it would have been easy for us to send these troops earlier if we had intended doing so and thus stop the raiders at an early stage of their career along Jhelum Valley road. Both military and other competent opinion have criticised us for being dilatory. At no time did we consider the question of sending troops to Kashmir previous to October 25th. The earlier visits of Kashmir officials were concerned with supplies and no question of giving military help arose.
5. Kashmir's accession to India was accepted by us at the request of the Maharaja's Government and the most numerously representative popular organisation in the State which is predominantly Muslim. Even then it was accepted on condition that as soon as the invader had been driven from Kashmir soil and law and order restored, the people of Kashmir would decide the question of accession. It is open to them to accede to either
Dominion then. Had we desired a pretext either for Kashmir's accession or for sending our troops there we should not have waited till large areas of Kashmir and parts of Jammu province had been given to fire and sword and Srinagar itself was in peril of capture by the raiders with all its horrors.
6. I have no doubt that you realise that the raiders from the Frontier Province, or along the Murree road come from Pakistan territory and it is the easiest thing in the world to stop them at the two bridges which connect Pakistan territory to Kashmir. They were not so prevented and their equipment and arms, including artillery and automatic weapons, bear witness to every help being given to them. We are credibly informed that regular officers of the Pakistan Army are advising the raiders. Even now it should be easy for your Government to stop the passage of these raiders or their supplies to Kashmir territory completely.
7. Our assurance that we shall withdraw our troops from Kashmir as soon as peace and order are restored and leave the decision regarding the future of this State to the people of the
The State is not merely a pledge to your Government but also to the people of Kashmir and to the world.
8. You lay on us the responsibility for what is happening.
should have thought that this could more appropriately and fairly be placed on those who have been attacking and invading. To accuse us of provocation and aggression, now all that we have done is to go to the rescue of people threatened with loss of life, property and honour, is a similar perversion of truth and reason. It gives me no pleasure to write to you in this strain. I am convinced that if Pakistan and India are to live in peace, leaders on both sides must have trust in one another and act with understanding and restraint. Mutual mistrust and recrimination can only lead to consequences which would be to the advantage of neither India nor Pakistan. I have done everything possible to think and act in this spirit. It was not possible for me to refuse the request of the Kashmir Government to help them to prevent the raiding bands from committing massacres, arson and looting and ruining Kashmir. I should have thought that it was equally to your advantage to prevent this and hence my appeal to you to stop these raids at the source.
9.I have no knowledge of the raid you refer to in Jammu in your last paragraph. I am enquiring about it. We shall certainly do our utmost to stop it all! raids and I appeal to you to do the same. I understand, however, that there is concentration of Pakistan troops on the Jammu border."