International

Analysis: Pakistan New Map Claim’s Junagadh

To understand the Pakistan insanity claim on Junagadh, we need to go 73 years back and understand the history. Then we will be pretty clear about the new map of Pakistan.

WHERE IS JUNAGADH?

Junagadh District is a district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Junagadh.

New Political map of paakistan

Junagadh is not connected to Pakistan by land. It is surrounded with a land borders with India. One of its sides is open to the Arabian sea. The boundary between the Indian state of Gujarat and the Pakistani province of Sindh is described by Sir Creek Line.

JUNAGADH BEFORE INDEPENDENCE

Before independence, Junagadh was one of the princely states among 565 princely states. The ruler of Junagadh was Muhammad Mahabat Khan Babi III, a man known for his opulent lifestyle and love for animals, particularly dogs.

Lord Mountbatten, on 3rd  June 1947 announced the partition of British India. In addition, on 11th July 1947, the British parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947. This act gave the choice to the Princely state to either accede to India or Pakistan or to remain an independent state.

Mountbatten got the initial indication of Junagadh acceding to India from constitutional advisor to Nawab of Junagadh ( Nabi Baksh) and minister of Junagadh. But after the involvement of the Muslim league in Junagadh’s executive council, the Nawab decided to accede his state to Pakistan.

JUNAGADH AFTER INDEPENDENCE

Junagarh was a princely state before the independence of India. But on 15th August  1947, the Nawab declared the accession to Pakistan. V. P. Menon requested the Nawab for accession to India and threatened him to face the consequences in case of denial.

INSTRUMENT OF ACCESSION

As a result, on 16th September 1947, Pakistan accepted the accession formally. Even though 80% of the population of Junagadh were Hindu who was against this accession.

The Government of India was outraged that Muhammad Ali Jinnah could accept the accession of Junagarh despite his argument that Hindus and Muslims could not live as one nation.

But Sardar Patel demanded that the matter of the state’s accession should be decided by its people instead of the ruler. And Nehru announced that India did not accept Junagarh’s accession to Pakistan.

Since Junagadh comprises 80%  of the Hindu population, the people of Junagadh didn’t want to accede to Pakistan rather they wanted to become a part of India.

After the encouragement from the Indian side, two principalities of Junagadh-  Babariawad and Mangrol,  claimed independence from Junagarh and acceded to India. However, the Sheikh of Mangrol withdrew his accession the following day.

MILITARY BLOCKADE IN JUNAGADH

On 24th October 1947, India surrounded the princely state on all of its land borders and a Naval blockade in the  Arabian Sea. The trade and food supply of Junagadh was badly affected by this blockade. This led to a sudden spike in protest against the decision of Nawab acceding to Pakistan. Due to unrest in Junagadh, the Nawab feared for his life.

On 25th October 1947, he flees to Karachi with his family and wealth, and the Nawab gave the charge of Junagadh administration to his  Diwan –Shah Nawaz Bhutto.

On 8th November 1947, Due to the hardships of the blockade and financial collapse, the Diwan of Junagadh (Shah Nawaz Bhutto) asked the Indian government to take over the administration.

On 9th November 1947, the Indian Army took over Junagadh and installed a new state governor.

PLEBISCITE IN JUNAGADH

India faced strong criticism from Pakistan saying that this was a forcible annexation. And protested that, how can India take over Junagadh when the Nawab of Junagadh signed the instrument of accession with Pakistan.

In order to avoid the international criticism of a hostile takeover, the Indian government decided to conduct a public referendum (plebiscite) on the status of the state. Finally, a plebiscite was held on February 20, 1948.

99.95% of the population voted to join India and only 91 (0.05%) out of 190870 voted against.

After the accession of Junagadh in India, it was made part of Saurashtra. On 1st November 1956, Saurashtra became a part of Bombay. In 1960, Bombay state was split into Gujarat and Maharashtra and Junagadh became part of Gujarat.

CASE OF JUNAGADH  TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Pakistan brought the case of Junagarh to the United Nations in January 1948. The UN Security Council commanded its commission on Kashmir to examine the conflict over Junagarh. The Kashmir conflict was attached to the  Junagarh conflict  at the United Nations Security Council.

However, the Kashmir conflict overshadowed the Junagadh dispute in the UNSC. The issue still remains unresolved in the UN Security Council.

WHY PAKISTAN CLAIMS JUNAGADH?

Since the Junagadh issue is unresolved, Pakistan lighted up the matter again after 73 years. This move comes on the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. 

On 4th August 2020, Pakistan PM Imran Khan revealed a new political map including J&K, Ladakh, and parts of Gujarat including Junagadh in its own territory.

INDIA’S REACTION

India’s external affairs ministry sharply rejected Pakistan’s new map calling it a ‘political absurdity adding that these “ridiculous assertions have neither legal validity nor international credibility”.

Islamabad’s move “confirms the reality of Pakistan’s obsession with territorial aggrandizement supported by cross-border terrorism”.

IMPORTANT POINTS

  1. The so-called New map of Pakistan has not shown any border with Aksai Chin. This is the only map in the world without an international border. This is a new Pakistan.
  2. Pakistan calls Indian Kashmir as- Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. But now they added the term ” illegally” in the nomenclature and now it is called- Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
  3. Imran khan was perhaps inspired by Nepal prime minister KP Sharma Oli, who recently pushed through a new map claiming sovereignty over Indian territories of Limpiyadhura, Lipu Lekh, and Kalapani.
  4. The new political map of Pakistan and Nepal comes after the rise of aggression between India and China. These two countries have a pro Chinese Stand. It is China that is pushing them against India. China’s expansionist role is not only in Indian territory but also in the South China Sea.

CONCLUSION

In recent news, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has said that he is ready to eat grass if it meant an increase in the budget of the Pakistan army. Another news on locust was that Pakistan sold locust at 20 Pakistani rupees for every kilogram. This is how Pakistan going to increase its Army Budget.

It is said that a child born in Pakistan bears a loan of 2.5 lakhs to 3 lakhs. This indicates the number of loans in Pakistan. As of March 2020, the public debt of Pakistan is estimated to be about ₨42.8 trillion/US$256 billion which is 98.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) of Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan invests a good amount of money on military weapons and cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan should change its attitude and stop terrorism against India. Pakistan has worsened its economic strength by spreading terrorism in India. In fact, the people of Pakistan should focus on their military officers, as the higher-level military officers of Pakistan has ample amount of wealth from FUAJI FOUNDATION ORGANISATION, international business like JABCO INTERNATIONAL(real estate business), PAPA JOHN’S(125 restaurants in the USA),  etc and other military corruption. The Fauji foundation sells everything from a needle to gas exploration. The military General holds the highest power in Pakistan whereas the Prime minister is the selected one by the Army Generals.

Pakistan has left no stone unturned to maltreat India and hence introduced the new political map.

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Diwakar Kumar Gupta

I am from Hajipur, Bihar and currently living in New Delhi. I am keen in gathering information about International and Defence affairs.

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