‘Defence pact’

Published September 9, 2018

THIS is with reference to the letter ‘Quaid on Indo-Pak joint defence’ (Sept 6). As far as I know, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah never made any such offer to India.

It would have made no sense since Pakistan and India were already involved in hostilities at the time, and there was no threat to either country from any other power.

It was Ayub Khan who offered a joint defence pact to India. Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah was the most vocal critic of this offer.

If the Quaid had ever made a joint defence offer to India, she would not have opposed Ayub Khan in this matter.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Iran stalemate
Updated 02 May, 2026

Iran stalemate

THE US and Iran are currently somewhere between war and peace. While a tenuous ceasefire — extended largely due to...
Tax shortfall
02 May, 2026

Tax shortfall

THE Rs684bn shortfall in tax collection during the first 10 months of the fiscal year is a continuation of a...
Teaching inclusion
02 May, 2026

Teaching inclusion

DISCRIMINATORY and exclusionary content in Punjab’s textbooks has been flagged in Inclusive Education for a United...
Water vision
01 May, 2026

Water vision

WATER insecurity in Pakistan has been building up for decades as per capita water availability has declined from...
Vaccine policy
01 May, 2026

Vaccine policy

PAKISTAN has finally approved its first National Vaccine Policy; a step the health ministry has rightly described as...
Labour rights
Updated 01 May, 2026

Labour rights

THE annual observance of May Day should move beyond statements about the state’s commitment to the rights of...