Relations with India to us are very important and
in some respect they are most important to us. Relations between Pakistan and India
are of such utmost importance as Mr. Masihur Rehman said, that war between
India and Pakistan if it ever took place would be a war of special character,
it would be a war which would inevitably affect the minorities in both the
countries. It will affect 100 million Muslims of India and about 10 million
Hindus in Pakistan. So this can be the war of grave, the most devastating and the
most barbaric war that man can face.
So far we have been able to hold our own despite
overwhelming odds and difficulties. We have been able to hold our own, not
because we are capable or efficient but because of the sacrifices made by the
people of Pakistan to maintain a strong and viable Pakistan to face the Indian
threat. in the ups and downs and the vicissitudes of cries we have had with
India from 1947 onwards, the high water mark was reached during the rank of
Kutch dispute. This is the way sometimes history moves, it becomes
uncontrollable; events get out of hand: events have their own dynamics. A time
came when the whole Indian army was poised against the Frontiers of Pakistan
and the Pakistan army had to take the counter-measures.
Those 10 mountain divisions which our Western
allies had provided to India for the defence of India against Laddakh were
poised against the plains of the Punjab. These very same 10 mountain divisions
which we were told were meant for India’s defence against the Chinese in
Laddakh were poised against and were facing Pakistan. As a result a deadly and
dangerous confrontation existed between India and Pakistan. Our position is
that the rank of Kutch up to the 24 th parallel is disputed territory which
covers about 3,500 square miles. According to us that is Pakistani territory
and we have sufficient evidence and proof to establish that these 3,500 square
miles from part of the territory of Pakistan. India, on the other hand claims
that the Rank of Ketch is a part of Gujarat state and it is Indian territory.
That is why the dispute arose. We saw India gradually creeping into the
disputed territory.
So we had to take measures in our self-defence. It
was incumbent on us not because we wanted to go to war with India, but because
we believe in the following lines.
“We do not attack.
We do not fight,
But if anyone else dares show his might.
Drawing out our swords
And shouting God is Great,” We war and win.
We in and create;
A mighty world Of Liberty of all
A mightier state of equality of all.
With the help of the Quadrant and Muhammad and almighty Muscle man.
It goes without saying that war with India is most
deplorable thing for anyone to visualize and contemplate, but certainly we
could not allow India to settle the dispute by force. Our point of view has
been that we should settle all our disputes by the peaceful means of
negotiations. Mediation, arbitration, by recourse to Article 33 of the United
Nations Charter and by another peaceful means that is available to states. So,
here we found India trying to settle a problem by military means and we were
compelled to take action in defence of our own territory. We took that action.
Pakistan, without Jam mu and Kashmir is a body
without a head. Pakistan has tried is best to settle this dispute peacefully.
But India always goes against it. President Ayub said, Pakistan also wanted to
live in peace with India in spite of Delhi’s hostile attitude for the last 18
years. Instead of living as good neighbour the Indian leaders designed their
internal and external policies so as to weaken Pakistan Pakistan desired peace
with India in spite of outstanding disputes between the two tries, like Kushner
and we of Muslims from the Indian states bordering Bangladesh. But, he said,
Pakistan would not be a friend of a country which would want to throttle her.
Now, he said, with the increased military might of India, thanks to the help of
western powers, Pakistan faces greater danger from India. The Rank of Ketch
clash was just a demonstration of force by India.
The clash showed that India wanted to settle
disputes through military means. This proved that she believed in military in
military solution of dispute. In view of this aggressive policy of India, Pakistan
will be facing a difficult situation and the nation should be fully prepared to
face it. The president further added: “Let our friends remember that those who
cannot protect their own honor can be of no use to their friends either.