"ملف ٥٧/١١ الوضع السياسي في الهند وباكستان" [و‎‎٣] (٢٦/٥)

Pol. 63 70/48
r^
/N
Events in India and Pakistan during
December 1947
A. RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO DQIvilDIONS
Kashmir
The Kashmir situation dominated events during the month. At the
outset hopes were raised that a settlement might be possible. At a
meeting at Delhi on 27th and 28th November a formula had been discussed
and it had been agreed to resume consideration of the matter at Lahore
on 8th December. Thereafter however the chances of'an agreement
receded. Sardar Baldev Singh,.Sardar Patel and Mr. Nehru all paid
visits to Jammu and heard stories of alleged atrocities committed by
the Moslems. Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan visited Rawalpindi, where he found
the Azad Kashmir Government very reluctant, under the influence of
their steadily improving military position in Kashmir, to consider any
solution which did not provide for the establishment of an impartial
administration in Kashmir and the withdrawal of the Indian troops. He
also heard atrocity stories.
2. Consequently at the meeting at Lahore on 8th December a deadlock
on Kashmir was reached. Both Dominions accepted the proposition that
the tuture of the State should be settled by plebiscite as soon as the
situation permitted. But the Pakistan Government were not prepared to
appeal to the tribesmen to withdraw and the Moslem insurgents in Kashmir
to stop fighting because they knew that they would not be obeyed unless
an impartial administration v/as to be set up as a preliminary to a
plebiscite and it was clear that Moslems in the State would be safe.
The Government of India maintained their right, by virtue of Kashmir's
accession to the Indian Dominion, to restore order and maintain it
during the plebiscite. They were also reluctant to sacrifice Sheikh
3* The tension was much increased by the deterioration in the
position of the Indian Forces in Kashmir. The onset of winter made
/ the