INDO-PAK RELATIONS: A STUDY OF POST NEHRU ERA ABSTRACT ^^ OF THE THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF ©octor of ^Ijilo^opljp / / POLITICAL SCIENCE "^^k. m ^1 ¥, ^ 4J< \ ^ ^ BY w ATEEQ-UR-REHMAN Under the Supervision of DR. S. WASEEM AHMAD DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2008 ABSTRACT The question of belonging to one family, for many people in India and Pakistan is not merely an abstract idea but an actual fact. In addition, there are many people in both countries who were born on what is now the territory of the other. Indians and Pakistanis are not just neighbours, they are closely related. It is surprising that people with so much in common, who can enjoy so much of each other's, culture, who can amicably play cricket against each other, can still regard each other with suspicion. There are those who cite differences of religion as the original cause of partition, and a continuing source of conflict. Yet, they forget that the purpose of religion is not to build beautiful churches or temples; it is to cultivate positive human qualities such as tolerance, generosity and love. Every major religion of the world, no matter what is philosophical view, is founded first and foremost on the belief that we must reduce our selfishness and ser\'e others. One rehgion, like a single type of food, can not hope to satisfy all. Some people benefit from one teaching, others from another. All faiths, despite their often contradictory philosophies, possess the ability to produce fine warm-hearted human beings. Therefore, religion should not be a cause for division, but the ground for mutual respect. If India was torn to pieces in 1947, the years that followed saw her being audaciously fooled both by her neighbouring State as well as by those who moulded her destiny over the past half a century. During the last sixty years, India and Pakistan fought four wars in 1947-48, 1965, 197land 1999 and they came close to war in 1987, 1990 and again they are on the border facing each other in a different mood. Today, relations between India and Pakistan exist in a state of violent peace: a state in which friction points erupt into periodic battles or brief gory conflicts, but there is no war-declai-ed or undeclared. These friction points manifest themselves in different form^ ranging from low intensity conflict and border skirmishes, to a medium intensity conflict in ^% jsq^'^m localised area. Her problems with Pakistan still remain unsolved, haunting her in the forms of terrorist infiltration, the proxy wars, the armed fights staged in Kargil and other places isolated bomb blasts and sometimes sporadic outbursts of communal frenzy called Jehad. Over the years, India has had to sacrifice a lot of her men and material resources either to fight the enemy or to feed the migrants who made their way to India. Inspired with the existing situation, a need is felt to take up a study which could evaluate the cost of partition borne by India and Pakistan in terms of the losses they suffered and the opportunities which they have forgone because of their rival nature for each other. Specifically, the present study attempts to analyse critically various dimensions of Indo-Pak relations ever since the partition of India, to examine the perceptions of some of the great leaders like Nehru, Jinnah, Gandhi etc. regarding the partition and to find major irritants that often hindered the peace process between the two nations with a view to suggest some remedial measures. According to the need of the present work, the whole study is divided into five chapters. It should be mentioned that the entire study is based on historical facts as well as updated information collected from books, journals, magazines, newspapers, white paper, selected speech of the leaders of both the nations, etc. The first chapter is of introductory nature which begins with the discussion of the genesis of India's partition and perceptions of Nehru associated with it. This is followed by a brief outline of different types of problems which occurred immediately after partition. The Indian sub-continent gained independence after century old struggle against colonialism. When the sub-continent gained independence, it was expected that newly emerged nations India and Pakistan would embark on sustainable development programme in order to achieve better life for their respective population. Unfortunately, India and Pakistan have developed a somewhat adverse relationship since the partition of the sub-continent. The relations have been a hostage to history, dating back to pre-partition days when Hindu-Muslim relations were politicised to the extent that partition seemed to be a logical outcome. The origin of India-Pakistan mistrust lies in the ideological differences between the Congress and the Muslim League. The diametrically opposite social manifestations of their ideology provided the basis for the post independence conflicts. The role played by the British, ever since 1857, had strained the relations between the opposing political ideologies. The two leading and old parties, Congress and Muslim League were different in their perceptions regarding the partition of India and the creation of separate nation for Muslims. The differences between the Congress and the Muslim League approach was essentially in their perceptions about religion and politics: whereas the League believed 'it was the sole representative of Indian Muslim', the Congress believed 'it was medievalism to think of communal groups functioning as political groups'. The great dilemma that the two-nation theorists faced was that "it was difficult for a minority to battle with a majority; democracy w^ould ensure the victory of a larger group". Although. the Congress party agreed to accept the partition of India, thereby indirectly accepting the two-nation theory sponsored by Jinnah. Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad and many other nationalist leaders of the Congress considered this to be defeat of the main objective of their struggle under the banner of Indian National Congress. India's partition in 1947 and riots resulting from it caused a serious damage of life and property on both sides. It was such an event in the history which can not be forgotten. This partition posed a number of problems. These were: transfer of population and problem of religious minorities, problem of recovery or compensation for abandoned property of refugees in India and Pakistan, division of State assets at the time of partition, canal-water disputes. boundary disputes, issue of integration of Princely States, namely-Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir. Eventually Junagadh and Hyderabad acceded to India but Kashmir is still an outstanding issue of controversy between the two countries despite its accession to India. The chapter two of this thesis is, therefore, devoted exclusively to the examination of Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan and how this issue was internationalise. State of Jammu and Kashmir was a composite State. It was ruled by a Hindu ruler, but was inhabited by both Muslims and Hindus. While in Kashmir, the Muslims are in a majority, in Jammu the Hindus are dominant and in certain parts the Buddhists form a sizeable section of people. Thus, Kashmir has been the major issue and a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. The partition gave rise to many disputes and problems. All of these disputes, except the dispute over Kashmir were solved gradually through mutual negotiations. One of the basic reasons of Kashmir dispute was its geographical location. "The geographical situation of the State was such that it would be bounded on all sides by the new domination of Pakistan". Its only access to the outside world by road lays through the Jhelum Valley and road which runs through Pakistan, via Rawalpindi. The only rail line connecting the State with the outside world lays through Sialkot in Pakistan. Its postal and telegraphic services operated through areas that were certain to belong to the domination of Pakistan. The State was dependent for all its imported supplies like salt, sugar, petrol and other necessities of life on their safe and continued transit through areas that would form part of Pakistan. Under the present de facto position of the State; Jammu, the Valley and Ladakh region are in India. The Tribal areas are in Pakistan, and Hill Districts (mainly Poonch) stand divided between India and Pakistan. Because of its strategic situation and geographical position, Kashmir is intimately connected with the security of India. In August 1947, when the paramountcy of the British crown lapsed Kashmir became an independent State and under the partition settlement it had the option to accede either to India or Pakistan or to remain independent. The Maharaja of Kashmir, Mr. Hari Singh decided to maintain the independence of Kashmir and as such did not accept either of the two Instruments of Accession that were forwarded to him by the Governments of India and Pakistan. Three days before the partition (August 12, 1947) the Maharaja proposed a "Standstill Agreement" with India and Pakistan. But that agreement was not followed by Pakistan and Pakistan promoted a large-scale invasion. After continuous pressure and attacks from Pakistan, Maharaja of Kashmir requested the Indian Government for its support and decided to accede to India, with a formal declaration on the Instrument of Accession of Kashmir to India. In view of continuous tension in Jammu and Kashmir sponsored by Pakistan and the failure of all bilateral efforts to resolve this dispute, the Government of India under the influence of Lord Mountbatten decided to refer this dispute to the Security Council in the hope that the United Nations would bring to bear the weight of world public opinion upon Pakistan and prevail upon it to discontinue its aggression in Kashmir.