22111948 Letter dated 22 November 1948 from the Chairman of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan to the President of the Security Council concerning the situation in Kashmir.
22111948 Letter dated 22 November 1948 from the Chairman of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan to the President of the Security Council concerning the situation in Kashmir.
I have the honour to transmit the following communication from the Foreign Minister of Pakistan : "I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that I have been instructed by the Pakistan Government to transmit at once the following communication to the Security
Council:
"The Pakistan Government wishes to draw the attention of the Security Council to the developments in Kashmir which constitute definite violations by India of the undertaking given by both Governments in response to UNCIP's resolution of 19 September 1948. This resolution appealed to both Governments to use their best endeavours during the absence of the Commission to lessen the existing tension in this dispute so as further to prepare the ground for its peaceful final settlement. The Government of Pakistan has scrupulously observed the undertaking given by them. On the other hand, India now appears determined to force a military decision in Kashmir.
"Indian Army has recently been reinforced in the Jammu area by three infantry brigades, four militia battalions, one field Artillery regiment, one medium artillery regiment. A corps headquarters has been established in Naushera controlling three divisions of army, one airborne division operating in Riasi and Poonch Districts. In Srinagar area reinforcement of two addict final infantry brigades plus three battalions and one regiment of field artillery have arrived. The Indian Air Force operating in Kashmir has also been considerably reinforced. Last September Indian Army made an attack on brigade strength on Zojila Pass, which was repulsed. In October an attack on brigade strength north from Jammu towards Uri was also held, while an attack by one brigade from Jhangar towards Kotli was held fifteen miles north-west of Jhangar. The Indian Army has now started a major offensive by at least one division supported by armoured cars from Rajouri towards Kotli and Mendhar and is continually moving up reinforcements to Naushera. Object undoubtedly is all-out offensive to obtain possession of Western Kashmir
including Mirpur, Mangla Head Works and the whole of Poonch. Heavy fighting is now in progress on this front and renewed flow of refugees into West Pakistan has already begun as a result of this Indian Army offensive. Indian army has also renewed attack by at least one brigade over Zojila Pass and has penetrated defences of Dras. These attacks on both fronts are being supported by maximum air action. It is quite clear that India's object is to secure a decision by military means immediately and so face the United Nations with a fait accompli. Hitherto Azad forces with minimum support by Pakistan Army acting in a purely defensive role have managed to hold Indian aggression. Pakistan Air Force has so far not been employed in a combat role.
"Pakistan Government cannot emphasize too strongly to the Security Council that unless immediate steps are taken by them to halt Indian Army offensive the Pakistan Government will have no option but to change their policy of using minimum regular forces in Kashmir and will have to undertake counter-offensive with all available resources in an endeavour to prevent the over-running by Indian Army of Poonch and Mirpur Districts. This inevitably led to more bloody fighting between regular Pakistan and regular Indian forces which up till now Pakistan Government have sincerely endeavoured to avoid. The situation is therefore fraught with possibilities of wide extension of armed conflict.'
In the course of my informal meeting with the Commission on 16 November, I understood that the Commission was formulating the basic conditions for a plebiscite under Part III of its resolution of 13 August, 1948, and that it intended to present its proposals very shortly to the representatives of India and Pakistan. Realizing the delicacy of the task upon which the Commission is engaged, and being extremely apprehensive that the efforts of the Commission to bring about a peaceful settlement of the disputes between India and Pakistan might be completely frustrated by India's attempt to achieve a military decision in Jammu and Kashmir, I have the honour to transmit my Government's communication to the Security Council through the Commission instead of sending it direct.
In view of the grave situation created by the aggressive action of India, which threatens to flare up into an armed conflict of the most serious magnitude between two states, Member of the United Nations, I would request that the Commission may be pleased to transmit the Pakistan Government's communication to the Security Council, and to take such urgent action as the Commission may deem appropriate and effective to cope with the emergency. The Commission will readily appreciate that a military decision achieved by one party to the Kashmir dispute, while the Commission is within sight of the formulation of its proposals for a peaceful settlement of the dispute, would from every point of view be a disaster, and that urgent and effective action is needed to avert it.
(Signed) Zafrullah Khan "Minister for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, Government of Pakistan"
The United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan, as is noted in the above letter, is at present engaged in the preparation of bases for further negotiations with the Governments of India and Pakistan, and is awaiting the replies of the representatives of the two Governments to its initial suggestions. The Commission envisages its return to the sub continent as soon as the development of the present consultations with representatives of the two Governments here in Paris renders this desirable.
The Commission has addressed a communication to the Secretary-General of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, who is at present in Paris, asking him to secure, as a matter of urgency, his Government's observations on the situation referred to in the communication from the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The Commission at the same time has appealed to the Government of India and Pakistan to refrain from any action which might aggravate the military and political situation and thus endanger the negotiations which are at present being directed towards the preparation of a peaceful final settlement. In an effort to obtain specific information on the present. military situation, the Commission is in communication with the Secretary-General regarding the appointment of a military adviser who would be dispatched to the Indian sub-continent as soon as practicable and keep the Commission currently informed. The Secretary-General is being addressed separately on this subject.
The Commission will keep you informed of further developments in the situation.
(Signed) Alfredo Lozano
Chairman
(Source S/1087)