P.S. Papta

Since August 1947, when two new states (India and Pakistan) were created out of the British Empire, there has been almost continuing dispute between India and Pakistan. Both countries have fought on four occasions in 1948, 1965, 1971 and 1999. The relationship has been difficult and strained especially in the recent past when India abrogated Article 370 and created two Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The question of how many wars India and Pakistan fought between them was asked in my final selection interview in 1986. Since childhood, we have always been a witness of news of India and Pakistan conflict and its effect on our psyche, economy and national security. Enough has been written by experts, both from the sub-continent and international on India-Pakistan wars—1948, 1965 and 1971—as well as the 1999 Kargil conflict.

Given my three postings in the Kashmir valley and passing through United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) Mission’s office near Badami Bagh in Srinagar, drove me to read about United Nations Resolutions and the ceasefire agreement. While there are many Indian experts who have given details of how the United Nations Mission came about, I feel Lars Blinkenberg’s two-volume India-Pakistan: The History of Unsolved Conflicts is the most insightful. I think some of the content of Blinkenberg need acquaintance by all, especially those who have interest in national security, including officers in uniform.

To start with, on India’s request, UN Security Council established the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) to mediate on the Kashmir issue. It also established the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan to monitor the cease-fire line.

India’s Governor General Lord Louis Mountbatten held a conference on 1 November 1947 with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, proposing that, in all the princely states where the ruler did not accede to a dominion corresponding to the majority population (which would have included Junagadh, Hyderabad as well Kashmir), the accession should be decided by an ‘impartial reference to the will of the people’. However, Jinnah rejected the offer. During a meeting between Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan in December 1947, India’s intention to refer the dispute to the UN was enunciated. India sought resolution of the issue at the UN Security Council on 1 January 1948.

Following the set-up of the UNCIP, the UN Security Council passed and imposed an immediate ceasefire and called on Pakistan ‘to secure the withdrawal from the state of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistani nationals, who have entered the state for the purpose of fighting.’ It also asked government of India to reduce its forces to minimum strength, after which the circumstances for holding a plebiscite should be put into effect ‘on the question of Accession of the state to India or Pakistan.’ However, it was not until 1 January