PAKISTAN recently completed 75 years of its independence which, on the one hand, is a remarkable achievement for the country in view of the fact that for vast periods of time it remained without competent leadership and guidance. On the other hand, however, it is a sad reality that princely states, like Kashmir and Junagadh, that opted to ally with Pakistan are still under Indian occupation.

Junagadh made the decision and it was set in stone when the Quaid-i-Azam, the founder of Pakistan, and Mahabat Khanji, the Nawab of Junagadh, put their respective signatures to the document officially under the legal principles designed for over 550 princely states that were part of India before Partition.

Unfortunately, India desecrated the sacredness of this affiliation by occupying the Junagadh state with heavy troops of the regular Indian army. Pakistan took the case to the United Nations (UN) which held several sessions on the matter before confining it to cold storage in the wake of change in certain governments.

Around the time Pakistan celebrated the 75th anniversary of its independence last month (Aug 14), hashtag #JunagadhIsPakistan on Twitter was a brilliant move that underlined the nation’s awareness and eagerness to own its land. Pakistan has always condemned Indian aggression on Junagadh, and the legal position remains unchanged; Junagadh remains part of Pakistan that has been occupied by India.

Since independence, Pakistan has officially granted the status of Nawab to the head of the Junagadh state in Pakistan. At present, Mohammad Jahangir Khanji is the appointed Nawab of the Junagadh state. He has been doing his best to keep the matter alive, and has often appealed to the government of Pakistan to fight the case just as it does in the case of occupied Kashmir at all international forums. In December 2020, the Nawab appointed Sultan Ahmed Ali, a young intellectual, as the Dewan, or the prime minister, of Junagadh state.

Dewan Sultan is a renowned personality and chairman of research-oriented think tank the Muslim Institute, which is working diligently to bring back Junagadh under the green flag once again.

Junagadh is the legacy of the Quaid-i-Azam and Nawab Mahabat Khanji. We have to get our land back. Pakistan should revive the matter at the UN, and bring it on the agenda of organisations like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

India should be made to respect international law that grants territorial integrity and safety from foreign aggression.

Gohar Awan
Khushab

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2022