NATIONAL INSULT
HE must have been indeed a sharp-witted man who spoke the axiomatic truth that, You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all the time.
America had drawn such a thick wool of her double-tongued diplomacy over the eyes of Pakistan in the matter of Kashmir dispute, pending still before the United Nations, that in spite of the word of warning uttered to her by persons who could see through the mist, that she should beware her Western friends, Pakistan, for 15 long years, continued, with the faithfulness and fidelity of a sincere ally, to repose full confidence in the American assurance that the dispute would be decided, as directed by the Security Council Resolutions by a free vote of the people of Kashmir, never suspecting that it was only a lip-profession, whereas under the rose America had been helping the aggressor, India, to dig her feet deeper into the Kashmir soil. India sat openly in the arms of America’s Enemy No. 1, the Soviet Russia, and enjoyed all the favour that she could get. But the world was struck with wonder and amazement to see that America also continued, with unabated breath, to offer to India her aid of all kinds. It was indeed a mystery which remained incomprehensible and obscure until the border dispute arose between India and China, and matters shaped themselves in such a way that America had to divulge a secret which had remained a sealed secret for ten years, viz. that an agreement had been signed between America and India, according to which massive arms aid was being rushed to India. The border dispute between India and China ended after a short period of time; but the supply of arms still continues, pointing unmistakably to the fact that there is some other deep-laid plan behind it. The matter becomes grimmer and appalling when we learn that Pakistan whose security has been greatly endangered by this out-of-proportion supply of massive arms to India, has neither been consulted in this connection, nor even informed later on. Pakistan, it is not denying the fact, has been let down by America to find out a way for herself. America may aptly be described as a banya of the Western World who always counts in terms of profit and loss even though it may be at the expense of his conscience or fair play.
There was only one country in the world, the People’s Republic of China, which had the moral courage to say, in the face of America’s pro-India policy, that the State of Jammu and Kashmir was disputed territory, and that the dispute should be decided peacefully through the free vote of the people of Kashmir. Here was, then, a simple, straightforward country which stood for the people of Kashmir’s birthright of self-determination. But there were some points to be solved relating to the line of demarcation between the two countries. This was done in the most peaceful way; and the two neighbours, China and Pakistan, signed and sealed their border treaty. Rather than be happy and satisfied that this treaty has eliminated all chances of a conflict on the Sino-Pakistan border, the so-called Defender of World peace, America, fell into a fit of rage. Her Secretary of State called the Pakistani Ambassador to his office and poured on him the vials of the American President’s wrath for entering into a border treaty with China, the details whereof had been kept in secrecy. His conscience felt no prick when he entered into a secret treaty with India which threatened to smash the security of a friend and ally of his own country. Let him turn over his Scripture, The Gospel according to St. Matthew, and read the following verse. Said Jesus:
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets (7:12).
The Secretary of State’s action of calling the Pakistani Ambassador to his office in order to make him the target of the American President’s resentment obviously constitutes a national insult to the people of Pakistan. It has certainly not created in Pakistan’s mind any awe or affright of America’s displeasure which the Secretary of State perhaps wanted to create to browbeat Pakistan; but it has, on the other hand, undoubtedly deepened in Pakistan’s mind the feeling of disgust already created by America’s pro-India policy in the matter of Kashmir dispute. Kashmir, it may be pointed out, may have some sentimental value for Mr. Nehru; for it was, once upon a time, the home of his fathers. But for Pakistan, it is a question of life and death. Pakistan will not, at any cost, let the State of Jammu and Kashmir be grabbed by India even though she may have to incur the displeasure of the United States of America.
The Kashmir dispute has been decided by the United Nations, America is one of the signatories to that decision, that the will of the people of Kashmir be ascertained through a free and unfettered plebiscite whether they would like to join with India or Pakistan. It is only the implementation of this decision which still remains and has been delayed for all these fifteen years by India’s machinations with the secret connivance of America. The whole machinery of the American Government could run into action in a day in the case of Korea, Suez or Cuba, for it suited to serve America’s political ambition, but in the case of Kashmir the very same machinery has become jammed and unworkable for 15 long years at a stretch, for it suited to serve the pleasure of Mr. Nehru. And now on the top if it comes the news, announced by America’s mouthpiece, the Washington Post:
The American Government has decided to reject Pakistan’s claim to the Kashmir Valley and Kargil.
Since when, it is not yet known, has America been appointed as the Supreme Lord of the United Nations, invested with the dictatorial power to set aside and over-rule, to suit her own whim the decisions arrived at by that World Organization. It was perhaps Voltaire who said :
They use thought only to warrant their injustice and employ words only to conceal their thoughts.
Pakistan’s entering into a peace treaty with the People’s Republic of China has disturbed the balance of mind of the present rulers of America. But it is yet to be known why this balance was not shaken when, only the other day, India and China walked arm in arm, and the slogan of Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai i.e. Indians and Chinese are brothers, had been raised in the streets of New Delhi; and America continued to pour out, most devotedly, her aid of all kinds before India. Obviously, America has different standards of morality to suit different situations. Pakistan, let it be understood very clearly, is an independent, sovereign State, and is quite free to negotiate any settlement with any country she likes. We are now quite conscious of the fact that for the preservation of our independence we shall have again to pay a price for which, of course, we are, as a self-respecting nation, quite prepared – In Shallah.
M.Y.Khan
(The Light – March 16, 1963)
