Speech of Dr Shabir Choudhry in aseminar arranged by Kashmir National Party to observe and condemn ‘TribalInvasion’ which Pakistani government managed on 22 October 1947 to capture theState of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Chairman, friends andcolleagues aslamo alaykam

I want to thank Asim Mirza andother people who helped to arrange this seminar to observe Black Day. KNPleadership can rightly take credit for being the first one to take thiscourageous step and tell the Kashmiri nation that Black Day should be observedon 22 October and not on 27 October as we have been observing in the past.

On advice and on instructions ofJKLF senior leadership, and under influence of propaganda and wrong historytaught to us (prepared by Pakistani bureaucrats to advance their imperialistaims in Jammu and Kashmir), wealways observed Black Day on 27 October to coincide with the landing of theIndian army in Jammu and Kashmir.This wrong history and propaganda of Islamabadunder the cover of religion is taught to us right from the childhood, and aimof that is to make us obedient slaves of Pakistanrather than rational human beings and loyal citizens of Jammu  and Kashmir.

KNP leaders said after the lapseof the British Paramountcy, Jammu and Kashmiremerged as an independent state on 15 August 1947, and this fact was acknowledged by Pakistani leadersand they concluded a Standstill Agreement with the government of Jammu  and Kashmir. When KNP leadership announced that weshould observe a Black Day on 22 October because it was on this day Pakistanand Pakistani backed tribesmen attacked sovereignty of the State of Jammu  and Kashmir by violating terms of the StandstillAgreement there was an outcry against this move.

Some Kashmiri parties, includingsome JKLF leaders accused us for promoting a pro Indian agenda, as in theirview we were diverting attention away from the Valley; and they accused us forcreating problems on the Pakistani side of Jammu and  Kashmir and weakening the struggle. When I looked attodays Urdu papers of Azad Kashmir it gave me immense satisfaction and a realsense of achievement, as papers were full of news items showing that differentKashmiri parties observed 22 October as a Black Day. My pleasure and sense ofachievement was enhanced with news that the JKLF also observed 22 October as aBlack day.

This proves that we were right atthat time, and we are right now. We are trend setters and our thinking is aheadof other parties and political activists. Whenever some thing new isintroduced, and even when it is not new and has been hidden by those who occupyus, people will oppose that either due to lack of knowledge or on instructionsof those powers which want to maintain the status quo. KNP leadership is determinedto bring out facts and educate the young Kashmiris about our rich historicalpast, about events of 1940s and the present day forced division that they canmake informed decisions as to how to fight those who occupy us and take forwardour struggle in line with international requirements.

Root cause of our presenttroubles, and trouble since 1947 is that unprovoked aggression against us whichstarted on 22 October 1947,and resulted in killing of tens of thousands of innocent people of Jammu  and Kashmir, looting arson, rapes and kidnapping ofKashmiri women. Furthermore it forced the Maharaja of Jammu  and Kashmir to seek help from Indiato save his State, life, property and honour of his subjects. The Indian helpcame only after the Maharaja agreed to sign an Instrument of Accession with Indiawhich was provisionally accepted and had to be ratified by the people of Jammu  and Kashmir. Of course, to date we have not had anopportunity to ratify or reject that Provisional Accession.

The Indian forces landed in Kashmiron the morning of 27 October 1947; and Pakistani governments and Pakistani backed partiesare encouraged and helped to observe that day as a Black Day. I have no problemwith that. However, this fact should be understood that if there was no tribalattack on 22 October 1947,there would not have been any need to seek help from India,and the Indian troops would not have landed on 27 October. In other words, 27October is a by product of the events that started on 22 October; and withoutthis unprovoked aggression, aim of which was to capture the Kashmiri Capital,we could have been an independent State.

Furthermore, whereas Pakistanand Pakistani backed tribesmen entered the State territory by violating theStandstill Agreement, and against the wishes of the government and the Ruler ofJammu and Kashmir; the Indian troops entered theKashmiri territory on the request of the Ruler of Jammu and Kashmirand as a result of a treaty between the two States.

Mr Chairman

It must be pointed out here thatthe present role of the Indian army and para military forces goes far beyondthe terms of the agreement under which they entered the State. I and my othercolleagues condemn all human rights abuses taking place in Jammu  and Kashmir whether committed by men in uniform,secret agencies or jihadi groups or other militants; but we must understandhistorical facts and who did what in name of Kashmirdispute.

Some people in order to justifythe ‘Tribal Invasion’ claim that the tribesmen came there to help Muslims whowere being butchered by Hindus and Sikhs in Jammu.This story is totally wrong; and is advanced only to provide a cover to theatrocities of these savage tribesmen. Communal riots started in Jammuin third week of August 1947 when non Muslims uprooted from Pakistani Punjabpoured in to Jammu from Sialkotand Gujrat areas. Horror stories and condition of these ‘migrants’ providedfuel required to start riots and non Muslims from outside the State also tookpart in these riots in which Muslims were the main target.

If aim of this tribal attack wasto help Muslims who were killed in riots then they should have proceededtowards Jammu where Muslims were inminority. They could have entered the State territory from Sialkotwhich is only about 28 miles from Jammuor from Gujrat. Furthermore, why did they wait till 22 October (two months)before they launched this tribal attack, Muslims of Jammu needed urgent help inAugust 1947, but Pakistani government and these Tribesmen did not make anymove, they did not even issues a statement against these riots.

The reason for this is that untilmid October 1947, Pakistani authorities were under this impression that theMaharaja of Jammu and Kashmir will accede with Pakistan; and by helping Muslimsof Jammu (when they were under attack) or by speaking in their support theGovernment of Pakistan did not want to annoy the Maharaja and risk losing Jammuand Kashmir. However, when Pakistani government realised that the Maharaja didnot want to join Pakistanand wanted to remain independent; and he even refused to allow Mohammed AliJinnah to visit Srinagar for aholiday, they decided to teach him a lesson.

Pakistani government was reallyannoyed and felt humiliated and let down. They decided to punish the Maharajaand take over Kashmir by force. In complete violation ofthe Standstill Agreement they stopped all the essential supplies including foodand oil entering the State; and despite repeated requests from the Maharajagovernment, Pakistandid not allow resumption of supplies of essential goods to Jammu  and Kashmir.

To make matters worse for theMaharaja, Pakistangovernment encouraged a rebellion in Poonch where Muslims were very resentful.Muslim soldiers who took part in the Second World War had returned to theirhomes and were more conscious of their rights and use of gun. Furthermore Pakistanaccused the Maharajah government for attacking Pakistani territory; anddemanded that either the Maharaja or his Prime Minister should immediatelyvisit Karachi (Pakistan)to resolve these issues.

The Maharaja denied these charges,and said how his small army (8000, in total and scattered in various parts ofthe State) could attack Pakistan;and for what purpose he would do that. Both governments exchanged telegrams toresolve these issues between second week of October and 19th October 1947; and the Maharajasuggested to set up a Joint Commission to investigate these matters. Pakistanigovernment showed no interest in any kind of investigation or any Commission;and while these communications were going on, Pakistanassembled tribesmen from North West Frontier in name of Jihad and attacked the Valley of Kashmir which had overwhelmingMuslim majority, and where there were no riots and Muslims were not underattack.

Clearly the aim was not to helpsurrounded Muslims of Jammu, but to punish the Maharaja by capturing his capital– Srinagar. As noted earlier if theaim was to help Muslims of Jammu then the tribesmen should have been directedto Jammu Provincevia Sialkot and Gujrat; and thatattack should have taken place in August 1947, and not on 22 October.

In this brutal attack non Muslimswere the main target – their men were systematically killed, their women wereraped and kidnapped and taken back to North West Frontier. Their houses wereburnt; however, the tribesmen showed great equality when it came to looting- theylooted everyone; even those items which were stored in a Masjid (Mosque) byMuslims and non Muslims hoping that Muslim tribesmen will not loot their belongingsfrom a place of worship, were also looted. Any Muslim who tried to protect nonMuslims and criticised these tribesmen were also killed on spot. It is believedthat more than 30 thousands people lost their lives in this brutal attack.

To us 22 October is rightlycalled a Black Day, but to rub salt in our wounds, and to hide their crimes, imperialistsof Pakistan and their foot soldiers camouflaged their crimes in name ofreligion and fabricated false stories to justify their atrocities and naked aggression.Sad thing is that these people have not learnt anything, and they stillcontinue to promote those policies which divide people in name of religion; andtime has come that we people of Jammu and Kashmirstand up and be counted.

Situation Gilgit Baltistan

Mr Chairman

Yesterday I received a phone callfrom a nationalist leader from Gilgit who is under detention there just becausehe spoke out against policies of Pakistan.This man, Baba Jan is a political leader and believes in peaceful struggle. Hedemands fundamental rights for the people of Gilgit Baltistan and exposesPakistani oppression and exploitation. He has not committed any crime; and yethe is suffering in prison because he believes Pakistani occupation of theseareas is illegal and against the wishes and interests of the local people.

While talking to me Baba Jan said:‘Dr Shabir Choudhry, give my Salam (greetings) to my brothers of Azad Kashmirwho are observing a Black Day to condemn and expose the Pakistan’sKashmir policy and the tribal invasion. Tell them Ifully support you and wish you all the best for your seminar. While you talkabout your miseries and problems, please do not forget about the problems weface in Gilgit Baltistan.’

Baba Jan further said, ‘like youpeople we are also occupied, but we are in worst condition because we don’teven enjoy those rights which you people have been enjoying for many decades. Isupport struggle of those people who are fighting for their rights and freedomon the Indian side of the LOC. I also support your struggle, but I cannot go toMuzaffarbad or Srinagar and fightfor you because I am also in chains in Gilgit Baltistan. I believe my struggleis on this side of the divide where I am occupied and oppressed. I can onlyhelp you or fight to liberate you brothers once I am free; and those people whoask you to liberate the Indian side of the Jammu and Kashmir first are notsincere, as they are promoting the agenda of Islamabad to hide their crimes andkeep attention away from these areas which in many ways are still living indark ages.’

Mr Chairman, thank you for yourpatience and for allowing me to pass on message of Baba Jan who is anothervictim of Pakistani secret agencies, and who is suffering because of hispolitical views.

Writer is a leader of Kashmir National Party, politicalanalyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute ofKashmir Affairs. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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