Text of Telegram dated November 21, 1947 from the Prime Minister of India, to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Text of Telegram dated November 21, 1947 from the Prime Minister of India, to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
"You telegram No. 104, dated November 19th. I have nothing to add to what I have already said regarding the so-called agreement in may telegram No. 338 dated November 13 th. I have been assured by the parties concerned that there was no agreement at all but the points noted down for discussion.
- Immediately after the accession of Kashmir State to India, we were entirely occupied militarily and otherwise in Kashmir valley and we were not in touch with the Jammu situation. We came to learn later that two convoys of Muslims had been brutally attacked in Jammu. We took immediate steps to prevent evacuation of Muslims from Jammu and to protect them there- Another convoy had started already but this was guarded by our troops and when this was attacked troops inflicted very heavy casualties on attackers killing 153 of them and wounding nearly a hundred and capturing 500 of them. Since then there has been no evacuation, no convoys, and no attacks. We have issued the strictest possible instructions to the Commander of our Forces that they should do everything possible to protect Muslims in Jammu and these orders have been carried out with success during the last fortnight. We deeply regret the attacks on Muslim convoys early in November and heavy casualties suffered by them. We should like to point out, however, that no troops of Indian Union have been guilty of offences that you attribute to them. They have effectively protected Muslims. It appears that the attacks on Muslim convoys were made chiefly by non-Muslim refugees.
3..Sheikh Abdullah has visited Jammu recently and taken effective steps there to provide safety and security to residents.
4.The Poonch area, according to information available to us, has been overrun by raiders, and garrisons of State troops are mostly isolated and besieged. It is difficult to understand,
therefore, how local Muslim population in this area could be victimised by non-Muslims.
5. We are quite sure that the soldiers of Indian Union Forces in Kashmir have afforded protection to Muslims according to strict directions, or have been engaged in fighting raiders.
6. As regards troops of States that have acceded to Indian Union, some of these were sent to Kashmir State but they arrived after attacks on Muslim convoys referred to above.
There has been no allegation to our knowledge that they have participated in attacks on Muslims and indeed they have not been physically in a position to do so.
7. I should like to draw your attention to certain resolutions passed recently by Indian Congress Committee in Delhi defining the policy to be pursued in regard to migration of
population, refugees etc. These resolutions represent generally the policy of our Government.
8. Your statement that we are not prepared to have discussion until raiders have been driven out of Kashmir must be based on some misunderstanding. We are ready for a discussion at any time. AH that I have said, and would repeat, is that a settlement of the Kashmir issue cannot take place unless raiders are made to leave Kashmir Slate territory.
9. I must express my great regret at the remark you have made in your Press statement about Sheikh Abdullah. I regard him as a man of high integrity and patriotism. You know well
his great influence in Kashmir. AH communities look up to him but more specially and naturally the Muslims of Kashmir. He has faced very difficult situations with remarkable courage and ability. He is now head of the Kashmir administration and undoubtedly represents in a very large measure the popular will of Kashmir. It would be improper in every way for us not to consult him in any matter relating to Kashmir State.
10. The specific suggestions regarding reference to the United Nations in your Press statement are:
(i) "U.N.O. should immediately appoint representatives in Jammu and Kashmir in order to put a stop to fighting and to repression of Muslims in the State ''. Since the United Nations have no forces at their disposal we do not see how they can put a stop to fighting or to the alleged repression of Muslims. This can only be done by an organised military force and is being done by our troops. The fighting would also stop as soon as raiders were made to withdraw and I have repeatedly asked for your cooperation in stopping transit and supplies to raiders through Pakistan territory.
(ii) "To set up an impartial administration of the State." It is not clear to me what U.N.O. can do in the present circumstances in Kashmir till peace and order have been established. We are convinced that Sheikh Abdullah's administration is based on the will of people and is impartial. Anyone who goes to Kashmir and sees things for himself can appreciate this. Moreover we have pledged that so long as our forces are in Kashmir protection of all sections of the community will be their first and sacred duty. This duty will be discharged without fear or favour.
(iii) "Toundertake the Plebiscite under its direction and control for the purpose of ascertaining the free and unfettered will of the people of the State on question of accession." I have repeatedly stated that as soon as the raiders have been driven out of Kashmir or have withdrawn and peace and order have been established, Kashmir should decide the question of accession by plebiscite or referendum under international auspices such as those of the United Nations. It is very clear that no such reference to the people can be made when large bodies of raiders are destroying the country and military operations against them are being carried on. By this declaration I stand.
11 . I have said enough to reassure you regarding our resolve to protect the Muslim population of Kashmir and of our desire to have the people of Kashmir themselves decide their own future under fair and equitable conditions. I would repeat that we are ready for a discussion at any time. But if a discussion is to lead to a settlement, the raiders must be out of Kashmir State. We cannot leave the people of Kashmir unguarded and in danger of attack. We have pledged our word to protect them.
12. In your Press statement you have said that you have no control of the tribesmen engaged in fighting in Kashmir. Even so, it should be possible for you to deny them access to
- through your territory and also to stop supplies of commodities like petrol which, prima facie, they could not obtain from any source outside Pakistan. If you*have no control over the raiders, and we do not stop and drive them out, then indeed we are reduced to a state of affairs when all Governments cease to function and (he raiders, the looters and
the killers become masters of the situation. That surely cannot be tolerated by our Government or yours.
13. I did not suggest that the Pakistan Army was participating in the raid officially. We possess, however, incontrovertible evidence that members of the Pakistan Army, whether on leave
or deserters, have joined the raiders and that the military equipment which can only have come from the Pakistan Army has been in the possession of the raiders.