Saquib Salim

After securing the partition of India along religious lines, Muslim League of Mohammad Ali Jinnah had an uphill task of keeping this ‘nation’ as a single unit. The tribes of Balochistan and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) were opposed to the idea of Pakistan. People in Balochistan were reported to have resisted the unfurling of the ‘Pakistani’ flag and instead reiterated their demand of Pathanistan, in case a united India was improbable.

Jinnah knew that tribes of NWFP and Balochistan were pro-India and thus must be kept at a safe distance from the Indian leaders. Kashmir, ruled by Maharaja Hari Singh, acted as a buffer state between India and these tribal regions. The prospect of Kashmir joining India was enough to send chills down the spines of Muslim League leaders because it would then provide India a direct access to these tribal regions. Kashmir borders these Pathan dominated regions.

Before 15 August, 1947, Kashmir had an economic treaty with the British ruled India. After the partition, the treaty was divided between the two states. In the new arrangement, India would supply food and clothing to Kashmir while Petroleum and telegraphic communications were to be provided by Pakistan. Pakistan employed an evil design in order to force Maharaja to accede to Pakistan. It stopped the supply of petroleum and other essential supplies from its side to Kashmir. When the issue was raised by the Prime MInister of Kashmir, the Pakistan Government claimed that the problem had arisen because of two officers Abdul Haque and Syed Ikramul Haque. Pakistan wanted the world to believe that its officers were working on their own. But, these tactics were not enough to force submission of Kashmir.

Soon, the tribes who were raising the voice for Pathanistan were propagated with ‘rumours’ of Muslim genocide in Kashmir by the Muslim League. News of riots were used as a pretext to arm and train these tribesmen as a fodder for war against Kashmir. On 22 October, 1947, at least 100 trucks of well armed tribesmen entered Kashmir from the direction of Abbottabad and burned down Muzaffarabad. This was the start of a war, where Pakistan unofficially used tribal militia, a tactic it would go on to use as a military tactic for decades to come.

For next few days, till 27 October, when Indian army was flown in the Pakistani militia had a free run and they looted freely. Though, League wanted the world to believe that it is a war between Islam and infidels, in reality their’s was a ruthless mercenary force. The most popular leader of Kashmir, Sheikh Abdullah, asked the international press to visit Kashmir and witness the barbarity of the invaders.

In a statement to the press, Sheikh Abdullah said, “these invaders, armed with modern arms,  are subjugating our land to a vassalage of Pakistan. They violated and abducted women, massacred children, and looted everything and everyone. They even dishonoured the Holy Quran, and converted mosques into brothels. Now every Kashmiri loathes invading tribesmen and their arch inspirers who have been responsible for such horrors."

The nefarious designs of Pakistan could not materialize as planned. Muslims of Kashmir resisted the invading army. Maqbool Sherwani, misguided the invading militia and delayed their march. By the time, the enemy could understand the Indian army was on its way to save Kashmir. For his bravery and patriotism, Sherwani was killed by the invaders,

Shahiid teri maut hi tere watan ki zindagi

Tere lahu se jaag uthegi is chaman ki zindagi

(O martyr, in your death this nation lives

This garden blooms by your blood)

Another Kashmiri, Mohammad Ismail guided the Indian army and saved an officer during a battle to win a Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award in the country. He is one of only two civilians to have been honoured with this award.

Today, Pakistan still illegally occupies a large portion of Kashmir and has kept lakhs of Kashmiris under its misrule as a result of this invasion 74 years ago.

 (Saquib Salim is a Historian and a Writer)