THE Pakistan Police have arrested a 35-year-old Pathan emissary of the Fakir of Ipi to Pandit Nehru, India’s Prime Minister, and have also recovered from his possession a letter from the Fakir to Pandit Nehru. The emissary, Awal Hussain, was apprehended at Hyderabad (Sind) and the Fakir’s letter asked Pandit Nehru for financial and other assistance, promising that as soon as he got this he will make tribesmen fight against Pakistan. The Fakir asked Pandit Nehru to attack Pakistan from the Indian side. For the last several weeks reports about the activities of India’s agents in Tribal territory and their efforts to stir up hostility against the Pakistan Government have been trickling into the Pakistan capital. The Fakir of Ipi was known to be the centre of these activities.

… According to Awal Hussain, in Ipi’s letter to Pandit Nehru and the personal message which he conveyed on Ipi’s behalf, the Faqir asked for India’s monetary and military help to annex territory up to the Indus… . …Awal Hussain … served in the Frontier Constabulary and Tochi Scouts till 1939 when he deserted and joined Ipi’s camp and Gorwekht.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2023