It was an irony that the Muslim majority area of Gurdaspur district of Punjab and similar other area in the ‘East’ was excluded from the boundaries of Pakistan. As a matter of principle, both Muslim majority areas referred here ought to have joined Pakistan. The Muslims of the entire subcontinent particularly the Muslim minority provinces had exercised their right of self-determination for the establishment of their nation state. Thus, the boundaries of two independent dominions were decided by the paramount colonial power. However, the fate of the princely states of the subcontinent remains unsettled.
The rulers of princely states had the option to join either dominion subject to confirmation by the people of the states through plebiscite or referendum. The ruler of Junagarh state entered into an instrument of accession with Pakistan but the Indian forces forcibly occupied the territory. Pakistan did not accept the results of arbitrary action and lodged a complaint against it in United Nations.
The issue is still pending on UN agenda. Similarly, the Indian government used their power to occupy the princely state of Hyderabad. However, a war like situation arose in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. History disproved any real instrument of accession executed between the Maharaja of Kashmir and the Indian Governor General but India advanced its regular forces in the territory and occupied a major part of the valley in 1947 and 1948. The conflict was referred to UN Security Council by India which had announced a seize fire followed by the decision to settle the issue through plebiscite which could not take place even after the lapse of seven decades.
The situation in case of princely state of Jammu and Kashmir could have been avoided if British colonial power acted in a responsible manner. The princely state in the subcontinent enjoyed internal sovereignty during British colonial rule. If the British rulers could have managed a plebiscite in the princely states before leaving India, the agenda of partition would not remain unfinished.
Mahfooz un Nabi Khan
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6, 2020.
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