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Indian Express
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Military Digest: When India offered Poonch and some areas of Kashmir valley to Pakistan as J-K settlement
On July 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Lok Sabha and stated that between 1962 and 1963, leaders of the then ruling party proposed the surrender of key regions in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), including Poonch, Uri, Neelam Valley, and Kishanganga. J-K has been the subject of three wars and a limited conflict between India and Pakistan, besides the insurgency which Pakistan has actively spawned since the late 1980s in the state. In view of PM Modi's remarks, it is worth going back in history to look at some of the forgotten aspects of the negotiations between India and Pakistan on J-K. Proposals from 1955 meeting and India's response Documents, text of letters and minutes of meetings held on the J-K negotiations form part of an exhaustive book on the subject titled India Pakistan Relations 1947-2007, An Exhaustive Study, edited by Avtar Singh Bhasin and published in cooperation with Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Minutes of the meetings between then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru his Pakistan counterpart Mohammad Ali and Interior Minister Iskander Mirza at New Delhi, May 15, 16 and 17, 1955, throw light on the aspect of offer of transfer of Poonch and other areas to Pakistan. Union education minister Maulana Azad and home minister Govind Ballabh Pant were present in these meetings. In the meeting held on May 15, 1955, Iskander Mirza broached the subject of Pakistan having a common defence with India. He pointed out the dangers of the Persian Gulf being occupied by a hostile power and that the defence of the Persian Gulf depended upon Pakistan and India. Nehru did not agree. 'I said that we would like to coordinate our defence policies as well as other policies with Pakistan, but what exactly did common defence mean. Against whom was it intended? Presumably against the Soviet Union. I could not conceive of the Soviet Union attacking Pakistan or India. There was a possibility, in case of war, of the Persian Gulf being threatened,' he said in his response. He would continue, 'Even that was a contingency that would only arise in case of a world war when of course military and strategic conditions would be considered from a world point of view. The major theatres of war would be Europe and the far East. The Middle East might be in danger but nothing much would depend upon it. The real issue would be determined elsewhere.' Nehru referred to some broad proposals made on behalf of the Governor General of Pakistan, Ghulam Mohammad, which proposed that a large piece of territory in Jammu, north of the Chenab, should be transferred to Pakistan and the Kashmir valley should be under the control of some kind of joint army. 'I pointed out that these proposals were completely impractical. I could not conceive of any kind of joint control of Kashmir for practical reasons. From constitutional reasons also, it had to be ruled out. As for large tracts of territory north of Chenab being transferred, this was quite out of the question. No one on our side could possibly think of this. We could never get people to agree to it, and it would create enormous problems of migration, etc. I also pointed out that this would mean cutting off a small area of Jammu left with India, from Kashmir,' said Nehru. The Pakistani delegation said something had to be done to make the Pakistani people feel that they had gained something. Nehru was asked what the least or the most that the Indian government would accept. 'I said that was difficult for me to indicate precisely the variations in the present ceasefire line. That would depend on geographical, administrative and other factors. These would have to be considered carefully by people on both sides. I pointed out for instance that the northern ceasefire line was not a happy one. The Kishanganga was a suitable line but actually the ceasefire line was a few miles away. These considerations might apply to other places too on both sides,' said Nehru. 'Apart from these minor alterations, I said that I thought it might be possible to consider the transfer of a certain part of the Poonch area which was on the Indian side. I was asked what part. I said I could not say definitely because I was not acquainted with the exact position but, roughly speaking, the Poonch area. Even this transfer, I added, might involve the migration of about fifty thousand persons from the areas transferred. That in itself would be a grave problem,' he added. Nehru also said one of the reasons for suggesting the Poonch area was the fact that it was a major recruiting ground for the Pakistan army and many people in its army came from that area. In the meeting held on May 16, 1955, certain proposals made in past by the Pakistan Governor General were discussed. These proposals were that a large area of the Jammu province, including Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, etc., should be transferred to Pakistan, that Skardu might be transferred to India, and that Kargil area should be attached to Kashmir and should be governed by future decisions about Kashmir. The meeting also proposed that there should be some joint control by India and Pakistan, both political and military, of this Kashmir area. A kind of plebiscite of the Kashmir area, from five to 20 years hence, was envisaged. Nehru was quoted as saying that he was much surprised to receive these proposals and could not even consider them. 'It was quite impossible for us to transfer these large areas to Pakistan. No government in India could do it, apart from this involving huge political and social upheavals in these areas which were settled and progressing satisfactorily. We were not very much interested in the Skardu area which was very sparsely populated and mountainous,' he said. 'As for joint control of Kashmir, this was unthinkable, and such a thing had not happened anywhere before with success. Kashmir was an autonomous area and we could not deal with it in this way. As for Jammu areas, I again pointed out that these large transfers were not at all feasible or desirable. It might be possible for us, as I had hinted, to consider the Poonch area in this connection,' added Nehru. In the next meeting on May 17, Maulana Azad said the Indian government had been aiming at a final settlement of the J-K issue. Azad suggested the transfer of the area of Poonch and a bit of Mirpur, which were on the Indian side of the ceasefire line. The minutes include a comment in brackets which quoted Nehru as saying, 'I had not mentioned Mirpur in this connection to the Pakistan Ministers previously but I had mentioned it to Maulana Sahib and Pantji. But Maulana Sahib had perhaps thought that I had mentioned this to the others also.' Nehru was also quoted as saying that India had gone as far as it could. 'This had not been previously referred to by UN (United Nations) but since Maulana Sahib had mentioned it, he would include that too with Poonch as the area which might be transferred to Pakistan. But it must be clearly understood that there could be no transfer of Poonch, etc., except on the basis of a final settlement. The map was again examined in an attempt to find out what exactly Pakistan wanted,' the minutes state. The talks were inconclusive and a joint communication issued at the end of talks between the prime ministers on May 18, 1955, blandly mentioned, 'In the course of the joint talks, the Kashmir problem was discussed fully in all its aspects. It was decided to continue these talks at a later stage after full consideration has been given by both governments to the various points that had been discussed in the course of these meetings.' The 1963 offer on ceding areas of Kashmir valley This offer was made during the third round of discussions held between India and Pakistan in February 1963 in Karachi. India was represented by Railways minister Swaran Singh and Pakistan by foreign minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The briefing given by the commonwealth secretary Y D Gundevia at the coordination meeting of the MEA in New Delhi on February 21, 1963 states, 'On the second day, the two Ministers settled down to a discussion of a possible delineation of a boundary line. Minister Swaran Singh indicated certain areas west of the Valley and north of the Valley, and our readiness to concede in favour of Pakistan the rich forest areas in the north, on both sides of the Kishenganga river.' Bhutto, in turn, responded that, according to Pakistan's criteria, only a little more than the Kathua district on the Punjab border, in the extreme south of Kashmir, could be given to India, Pakistan being entitled to the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir, right up to Ladakh in the north-east and including the Valley, as well as the southern areas, including Jammu, Udhampur, Aknur, Reasi, etc. 'The Pakistani offer was, obviously, ridiculous; but in the two but in the two last discussions Mr. Bhutto kept saying that unless we 'advanced on the map' and also agreed to discuss 'the problem of the Valley' in isolation, there could not be further talks. We said that we were content; and perhaps, the best course would be to report the results to our respective Governments and then decide whether any further talks were possible,' the document states. Nehru made a statement in Parliament on the India-Pakistan talks on Kashmir and other related matters on August 13, 1963. He said that during the talks, India not only exercised great patience and restraint, 'but also offered generous concessions, though in vain, in the hope of winning Pakistan's friendship and opening a new chapter of fruitful cooperation between the two countries'. He added that while India continues to cherish this hope, there is little possibility of a settlement so long as Pakistan persists in its irrational animus against India.
Arab News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan highlights India's ‘brazen disregard' for international law over Indus treaty stance
KARACHI: Pakistan on Saturday accused India of showing a 'brazen disregard' for international agreements after New Delhi said it would not restore the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty and divert river waters for internal use. India put into 'abeyance' its participation in the 1960 treaty, which governs the distribution of the Indus river system between the two countries, after 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir were killed in an April gun attack. India blamed Pakistan for the incident, though it denied any involvement. The accord remains dormant since then despite a ceasefire agreed upon by the two nuclear-armed neighbors last month following their worst fighting in decades. Islamabad's statement over the issue came after Indian Home Minister Amit Shah gave an interview to the media, saying New Delhi would not reinstate the treaty that guarantees water access for 80 percent of Pakistan's farms through rivers originating in India. 'The statement reflects a brazen disregard for the sanctity of international agreements,' Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement. 'The Indus Waters Treaty is not a political arrangement, but an international treaty with no provision for unilateral action.' 'India's illegal announcement to hold the Treaty in abeyance constitutes a clear violation of international law, the provisions of the Treaty itself, and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations,' he continued. 'Such conduct sets a reckless and dangerous precedent — one that undermines the credibility of international agreements and raises serious questions about the reliability and trustworthiness of a state that openly refuses to fulfill its legal obligations.' The statement further said India's attempt to 'weaponize water for political ends' was irresponsible and in violation of established norms of state behavior. It called on India to 'immediately rescind its unilateral and unlawful stance' and restore the 'full and unhindered implementation' of the treaty. 'Pakistan remains firmly committed to the Treaty and will take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and entitlements under it,' the spokesperson added. Earlier in the day, the Indian minister said in his interview New Delhi would divert water by constructing a canal, and that Pakistan would be 'starved' of water it had been receiving 'unjustifiably.' While Islamabad has pursued diplomatic channels to raise awareness of the issue globally, it has also warned that any Indian attempt to block river flows will be treated as 'an act of war.' With input from Reuters
CNA
05-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Insight 2025/2026 - India-Pakistan Tensions: What's Next?
47:01 Min The terror attack in Pahalgam, which saw India retaliate with strikes inside Pakistani territory, may have changed the shape of India-Pakistan relations for the near term. Will the ceasefire last? Insight 2025/2026 About the show: INSIGHT is a one hour long hard current affairs programme that aims to open the minds of viewers to the political, social and economic realities facing today's societies. Every week, a team of producers will bring forward compelling arguments, impartial analysis and penetrating insights into topical issues of the day. What's on the menu are topics of concerns that have set the region talking as well as changing trends and events which impact Asia and beyond. INSIGHT will get you closer to the heart of the issues with insightful interviews and engaging conversations, bringing to you the real story from behind extraordinary experiences.
Arab News
03-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Russia urges normal India-Pakistan ties, eyes deeper counterterrorism cooperation with Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday called for normal relations between India and Pakistan and expressed interest in closer counterterrorism cooperation with Islamabad during a meeting with a senior aide of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Moscow. The meeting came as Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant to the prime minister, began a visit to Russia weeks after India and Pakistan exchanged missiles, drones and artillery fire, following heightened tensions that ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10. Pakistan has since call for a 'composite dialogue' with India to discuss all outstanding issues, though New Delhi has rejected direct talks after Washington said the two countries had agreed to meet at a neutral venue to defuse tensions. Both sides have also formed delegations to present their respective positions over the conflict to the international community. 'At the outset of his visit to the Russian Federation, Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) called on Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, this afternoon,' Pakistan's embassy in Moscow said in a statement. 'He also briefed the Russian Foreign Minister, in detail, about the recent developments in South Asia, conveying Pakistan's perspective on the dangers of escalation as well as the dire consequences of India's threat to reduce the flow of the Indus Waters Treaty, by holding the Treaty in a so-called 'abeyance.'' 'Foreign Minister Lavrov stressed Russia's support for promotion of normal relations between the two countries and its positive effect in the region,' the statement added. Fatemi also delivered a letter from Prime Minister Sharif to President Vladimir Putin and conveyed Pakistan's desire to expand cooperation with Russia in areas including energy, trade and connectivity. Lavrov, for his part, expressed satisfaction over the 'steadily growing bilateral cooperation' and cited specific initiatives, including new steel mills and connectivity projects. 'He [Lavrov] also stated that Russia looked forward to working closely with Pakistan, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), especially in the field of counter-terrorism,' the embassy said. Russia and Pakistan have strengthened ties in recent years through growing bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy, and by working together on regional platforms such as the SCO, where both are full members.
Arab News
30-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
At Tajikistan summit, Pakistan PM urges world action over India's ‘weaponization' of Indus waters
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday drew the world's attention to India's 'weaponization' of water by suspending Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, urging the world to not let millions of lives to be held 'hostage.' India announced on April 23 that it was putting the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty in abeyance after it accused Pakistan of backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad has denied complicity and called for a credible, international probe into it. The IWT grants Pakistan rights to the Indus basin's western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses like hydropower, while India controls the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — for unrestricted use but must not significantly alter their flow. India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as power generation and irrigation, without storing or diverting large volumes, according to the agreement. Speaking at the International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation in Dushanbe, Sharif said the world must recognize that water transcends political boundaries, connects communities and sustains ecosystems and cultures, demanding world action over New Delhi's move to suspend the IWT. 'We are now witnessing an alarming new low, the weaponization of water, India's unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty which governs the sharing of the Indus basin's water is deeply regrettable,' he said, urging that lives of millions of Pakistanis must not be held hostage to 'narrow political gains.' 'Our waters and our glaciers... bind us in a shared destiny. Let us protect and preserve nature's precious bounties for our planet and our peoples.' The IWT suspension was among a series of punitive measures India announced against Pakistan over the Kashmir attack that killed 26 people. The archfoes this month traded missile, drone and artillery fire in their worst fighting since 1999 Kargil War before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10. India has maintained its decision to keep the treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, in abeyance, while Islamabad has said it will contest the move at every forum. Sharif also urged the world to expedite its climate action to protect glacial systems, which were the lifeline of their civilization, culture and economy. He said his country witnessed firsthand the peril of glacial melt in 2022, when devastating floods submerged Pakistan, washing away standing crops over millions of acres, affecting over 30 million people and causing more billions of dollars in damages. 'We only contribute less than half percent of the total world emissions, and yet we are one of those 10 most vulnerable countries facing this menace [of climate change],' he said. 'I pray to Allah Almighty that other countries do not face this kind of devastation which we faced back in 2022, but it will not be protected through words and speeches, it requires comprehensive, a plan, and immediate implementation.' Pakistan believes in shared responsibility and collective action, according to Sharif. There is an urgent need for an enhanced global climate action to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. 'The developed countries must meet their climate financial commitments without any delay and with a balanced focus on adaptation and mitigation as well as loss and damage,' he said. 'Adequate funding for climate resilient infrastructure and overcoming financing gap remains critical for climate vulnerable countries.' Islamabad has been urging the international community to ensure faster and simpler disbursements from the global fund to help vulnerable countries respond to climate-related losses. The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) was established at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt in 2022 and a year later, nearly 200 nations agreed to the operationalization of $575 million as part of it. However, disbursements under the program have since been slow, hampering climate adaptation efforts in developing countries.
