Documents

22121947 The Text of Letter dated December 22,1947 Handed over by-the Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to the Pakistan Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, in Person, in New Delhi


22121947 The Text of Letter dated December 22,1947 Handed over by-the Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to the Pakistan Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, in Person, in New Delhi

"On various occasions, I have drawn your attention to the aid which the invaders of the Jammu and Kashmir State are deriving from Pakistan. Those who come from tribal areas have free transit through Pakistan territory, and many of these invaders are nationals of Pakistan. They are operating against Kashmir from bases in Pakistan. Much of their modern military equipment has been obtained from Pakistan sources; mortars, artillery and Mark V-mines are not normally the kind of armament which tribesmen or civilians possess. Motor trans­port, which the invaders have been using, and the petrol required for it, could also be obtained in Pakistan only. Food and other supplies are also secured from Pakistan; indeed, we have reliable reports that the invaders get their rations from military messes in Pakistan. According to our information, large numbers of these invaders are receiving military training in Pakistan under officers of the Pakistan Army and other Pakistan nationals.

2. The forms of aid, enumerated in the preceding paragraph,, which the invaders are receiving, constitute an act of hostility and aggression against India because they are being used

against a State which has acceded to the Indian Dominion and is a part thereof.

3. The Government of India, while protesting against the action of the Pakistan Government in furnishing, or allowing such assistance to be furnished, and urging that the Pakistan Government should stop such help and call upon the invaders to withdraw, have so far taken no action which might involve entry by Indian forces into Pakistan territory. They have been

hoping all these weeks, though with diminishing hope, that the Pakistan Government themselves would put a stop to aid to

the invaders which help India's enemies. Since protests have failed to bear fruit, the Government of India now formally asks the Government of Pakistan to call upon Pakistan nationals to cease participation in the attack on Jammu and Kashmir State, and to deny to the invaders:

1. all access to, and use of, Pakistan territory for operations

against Kashmir State;

2. all military and other supplies;

3. all other kinds of aid that might tend to prolong the present struggle.

4.The Government of India has always desired and still earns the desire to live on terms of friendship with Pakistan. They sincerely hope that the request which they have now formally made will be acceded to promptly and without reserve. Failing such a response they will be compelled to take such action, with due regard to their rights and obligations as a member of the United Nations, as they may consider necessary to protect their own interests, and those of the Government and people of Jammu and Kashmir State.