UNDER the heading “Jinnah threatens civil war” the New York Times published on its front-page on Thursday [Feb 14] a … cable from its own correspondent in New Delhi about an interview he had obtained from Mr. M.A. Jinnah. The correspondent said that Mr. Jinnah told him that Muslims are willing to fight if the British fail to provide for Pakistan…. The cable said, Mr. Jinnah declared that if the British carry out their intention of calling a single constitution-making body, the only result would be a Muslim revolt throughout India.

Mr. Jinnah left no doubt that he is first and last a Muslim to the exclusion of any other consideration. He denounced the Viceroy’s proposal to establish a popular Government … before a constitution-making body could be convened. He also refused to accept a single constitution-making body on the ground that it assured emergence of a unified India.

Mr. Jinnah [said]: “Therefore, the only course open is for the British to concede Pakistan and make an unequivocal declaration to that effect. Then we can proceed to the adjustment of boundaries between Pakistan and ‘Hindustan’. After that Mr. Jinnah added the two Indian nations can make their own treaties.”

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2021