ISLAMABAD Nov 14 (TNS): Only those nations remain alive in history that never surrender nor compromise on their right of self-determination. Similarly, territorial integrity is also sacred for such nations and they do not allow occupation even of an inch of their land.
Fall of Junagadh is an appalling chapter in the history of subcontinent. On 9th of November, 1947, the Indian army advanced its troops while capturing Pakistan’s flag and hoisting its own flag on the state house of Junagardh. Indian army committed severe atrocities against the people of Pakistan in Junagadh.
The government of Pakistan reacted strongly to this illegal occupation which was also in complete violation of international law and human rights. At the helm of early problems faced by Pakistan (lack of resources, unorganized army, a gigantic flow of refugees), it was not possible for Pakistan to strike back against the Indian aggression in Junagadh.
Junagadh was a princely state of the subcontinent. Out of 562 states of British India, Junagadh enjoyed the unique privilege of being the fifth largest state in terms of revenue generation and 2nd largest among Muslim states. Junagadh was the premier state in the western Kathiawar region of India, commanding great strategic importance as a maritime state.
In 1941 it had a population of 670,000, of which over 80 per cent were Hindus, ruled over by a Muslim Nawab. With the announcement of the Indian Independence Act in 1947, it was made clear that the states have three options either they may accede to the state of their choice (India or Pakistan) or remain independent. Different tactics were used to capture Junagadh like the economic blockade of the state and the establishment of *Aarzee Hukumat* (Provisional Government) in 1947.
Nawab Mohabat Khanji, the then governor of Junagadh reached an agreement with Quaid-e-Azam, then Governor General of Pakistan and signed the Instrument of Accession.
This was not the sole decision of the Nawab of Junagadh but of the state council comprising both Hindu and Muslim members as their representatives from respective communities. The decision of accession with Pakistan was not directly taken by Nawab but it was the mutual consensus of the state council. In this respect, Junagadh became the first princely state to accede to Pakistan on 15th of September 1947.
Soon after this blatant violation of justice and fair play, Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah approached the United Nations on the behalf of Pakistan for redress. In the beginning, the issue of Junagadh remained alive in political as well as academic circles but as the time passes and with the shifting of capital to Islamabad from Karachi, this issue started to fade away.
The land of Junagadh with its sovereign in exile H.E Nawab of Junagadh are still waiting for the justice. After Quaid, Sir Zafarullah Khan filed the case in U.N., no progress has been made in this regard. The successive governments have been unable to project the case of Junagadh more forcefully.
Govt. of Pakistan should highlight this issue at various international forums because it is against the right of self-determination that the representatives of the State Council of Junagadh decided to accede to Pakistan and India forcefully occupied the state through armed intervention.
Junagadh is an integral part of Pakistan lawfully as there is a genuine instrument of Accession duly signed by Nawab of Junagadh & Quaid e Azam and Pakistan’s claim on Junagadh is still legally genuine at all international forums because instrument of accession is still intact.
Therefore, Pakistan should diligently fight for the cause of Junagadh on all international forums. Government of Pakistan should urge international community for a fair trial of all pending disputes with India, including Kashmir, Junagadh and Hyderabad simultaneously.
To make the issue of Junagadh alive, it is the responsibility of whole Pakistani nation especially media, academia, civil society and all other institutions to play their due role to bring the issue of Junagadh in limelight.
