Date: April 25, 2025
A sketch was made about Liaquat Ali Khan in such a way that; no one in Pakistan had the courage to question his decision. One example of this is that Liaqat Ali Khan said to Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan that; Sardar Saheb !!! Am I crazy to leave Hyderabad Dakkan, which is much bigger than Punjab, for the sake of the “rocky hills of Kashmir”?
After the establishment of Pakistan, the problem was that the top leadership of Muslim League belonged to India and their relations were with UP, CP, Bihar, Hyderabad, Dakan, Junagarh, New Delhi etc. On their mind, Hyderabad Dakan and Junagarh were given to Pakistan. The tune of inclusion was riding. They were not interested in Punjab and Kashmir. Neither had the sense of Punjab’s agricultural economy. Nor had the idea that; if Kashmir is occupied by India, what strategic dangers would Pakistan face?
India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Vilabhbhai Patel was desirable to give Kashmir to Pakistan in exchange for Hyderabad Deccan. India’s last Viceroy Lord Mount Batten arrived in Pakistan on the same day in October 1947, on the same day when the Indian The army had reached Srinagar, pushing back the army of tribal people entering Kashmir from Pakistan and took control.
Pakistan’s first Prime Minister’ Liaquat Ali Khan, an Urdu-speaking Indian immigrant from Uttar Pradesh, “who neither understood the history of Pakistan nor the geography” to Sardar Wilabhbhai Patel’s offer delivered by Lord Mount Baton. Rejected and insisted on taking Hyderabad Deccan. Liaquat Ali Khan had set his heart on Hyderabad Deccan and was not interested in the “rocky hills of Kashmir”. Whereas Sardar Walabh Bhai Patil was successful that; Pakistan deserves Kashmir’s right but Hyderabad Deccan. But doesn’t deserve the right.
Former Congress minister and prominent Kashmiri politician Saifuddin Soz has made a shocking claim that; “Sardar Patel insisted from the first day that Kashmir should go to Pakistan. In the Partition Council, he called Liaquat Ali Khan to take Kashmir and leave Hyderabad Dakan. Tried my best to please”. Soz said that; there was a meeting. Chaudhry Muhammad Ali and we were ready there. Sardar Patel told Liaquat Ali Khan that; don’t talk about Hyderabad Deccan. Because he is not connected with Pakistan. Aap Let Hyderabad Dakan stay with us and take Kashmir.
Suz said; “I tell you a very interesting story. When our army entered Srinagar. On the same day in the afternoon, Mount Batten went to Lahore. Governor General Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah’ Prime Minister Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan and four ministers of Pakistan. Had dinner together. Mount batten said; I have brought message from the most powerful personality of India Sardar Patel. Take Kashmir and leave Hyderabad Dakan. He is not connected with Pakistan.
Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan has written in his book The Nation That Lost Its Soul that; At a dinner, Lord Mount Baton delivered Patel’s message. “Patel had said that; Pakistan can take Kashmir and Hyderabad can give Deccan. The majority of which. It belongs to the Hindu population and it is not even close to Pakistan by sea or land.”
Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan wrote that; After delivering this message, Lord Mount Baton went to sleep in Lahore Government House. I went to Liaquat Ali Khan being the overall in charge of Kashmir operation. I advised him that since Indian Army has entered Kashmir with full force and we will not be able to annex Kashmir with tribal mujahids or our inadequate armed forces. So we should hurry up to accept Patel’s suggestion.
Liaquat Ali Khan turned to me and said; Sardar Sahib !!! Am I crazy to leave Hyderabad Dakkan, which is much bigger than Punjab, for the sake of the “rocky hills of Kashmir”? I am astonished at the PM’s reaction and his ignorance of our geography and devoid of his wisdom.
I thought that; he is living in the paradise of fools and doesn’t understand the importance of Kashmir for Pakistan. While hoping to get Hyderabad. Which is just a good thing and best wish. Say it with Pakistan Not even connected. So as protest I had resigned from my post. Which I had as overall incharge of Kashmir operation.
Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan has written in his book that; “Liaquat Ali Khan did not understand history. Nor geography”. That’s why he did not accept the offer. Sardar Patel was giving Kashmir on a plate. But emotional reasons and knowledge Due to the lack of Liaquat Ali Khan wanted to get Hyderabad Dakan. Which was a Hindu-majority area and was surrounded by Indian territory from all sides. This brings to the conclusion that; the biggest stupidity in the history of Pakistan. Kashmir was lost because of. We should have accepted the exchange that; Pakistan would have taken the state of Kashmir while India would have given the state of Hyderabad Deccan. Trying to get Hyderabad Deccan was illogical. Which is located in the heart of India. There was and there was a Hindu-majority area. Only the ruler was Muslim. Pakistan is suffering from the foolishness of Liaquat Ali Khan. Liaquat ali khan should have accepted the transfer. This was the result of the same failure that; Major General Akbar Khan got involved in Rawalpindi conspiracy. He is furious. It was that due to the failures of Liaquat Ali Khan’s political leadership, Kashmir has been badly lost.
Kuldeep Nair writes in his book Beyond the Lines—An Autobiography on Sardar Patel’s consistent ideology that; Kashmir should be a part of Pakistan. Kuldeep Nair wrote that; “My impression is that; if Pakistan had patience, it would have automatically got Kashmir. India is But couldn’t win nor ignore the structure of the Hindu Maharaja population which was Muslim with a clear majority. Instead, Pakistan impatiently sent the tribalists to Kashmir along with regular forces only a few days after independence”.
Kuldeep Nair writes that; “Though it is true that Nehru desired Kashmir’s annexation with India, Patel was the opposite. Even when New Delhi received Maharaja’s request for annexation with Bharat, Patel had said that; “we We should not mess with Kashmir. We already have a lot on our plate”. Patel kept his idea that; Pakistan should not talk about Hyderabad. Kashmir should go to Pakistan.
Chaudhry Muhammad Ali has presented an interesting detail on Patel’s observations about Kashmir in his book, The Emergence of Pakistan. He writes that; “During the partition council meeting, Sardar Patel was a bitter enemy of Pakistan, he was from Nehru.” It was more realistic. Sardar Patel and I were also present in a conversation between the two Prime Ministers. Liaquat Ali Khan was delusional about the inconsistency of India’s stance on Junagarh and Kashmir that;
If Junagarh is a part of India due to its Hindu majority despite its annexation of Muslim ruler Pakistan. Then how is Kashmir a part of India because of the Hindu ruler’s conditional annexation of its Muslim majority Hindu ruler with India? Could it be?
If there was no status of signing Junagarh’s annexation by the Muslim ruler. Then there is no status of signing by the Hindu ruler of Kashmir.
If the will of the people in Junagarh was of importance. Then it should also be of importance in Kashmir.
India cannot claim both Junagarh and Kashmir.
Chaudhry Muhammad Ali writes that; “When Liaquat Ali Khan raised these contradictory points, Patel could not control himself and burst out”. Why do you compare Junagarh with Kashmir? Talk about Hyderabad and Kashmir. So that we can reach an agreement. Chaudhry Muhammad Ali further commented that; “Patel’s” thoughts then and after that were; India’s attempt to gain Muslim-majority areas against the will of the people. It will not cause strength but weakness. He felt that; if India and Pakistan agree to let Kashmir go to Pakistan and Hyderabad to India then Kashmir and Hyderabad problem can be solved peacefully. Which is India. And it will be in the mutual interest of Pakistan.
AG Noorani is a well-known scholar. Who has enough knowledge on the Kashmir issue. He has quoted Liaquat Ali Khan’s attitude on Patel’s suggestions. In his article A Tale of Two States, AG Noorani writes that; “27 after a quarter century On November 1972 President of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto told a tribal congregation in Landi Kotal that; India’s first Home Minister and Minister for State Affairs Sardar Patel had offered Pakistan to give Kashmir in exchange for Junagarh and Hyderabad. But “unfortunately” Pakistan refused to accept the offer. As a result, it lost not only all three states but also East Pakistan.
As far as Jinnah was concerned, he was a lawyer. He had clearly proposed the exchange of Kashmir instead of Junagarh. Because both the states were a reflection of each other in multiple ways.
Kashmir was a Muslim-majority state whose non-Muslim rulers had annexed their state with India.
Junagarh was a non-Muslim majority state whose Muslim rulers had annexed their state with Pakistan.
Jinnah’s argument was that; since Junagarh has legally become part of Pakistan. So being Governor General of Pakistan, he has the right to discuss with India about the future of the state.
But since the ruler of Hyderabad has not annexed his state with Pakistan. So he has no right to discuss the future of the state or force the ruler of Hyderabad to annex his state with India against his will.
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