New Delhi: India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the largest political party in India, has referenced historical events surrounding the princely state of Kalat, stating that its accession to Pakistan on 27 March 1948 occurred after pressure and a loss of sovereignty.
According to the statement, the princely state of Kalat had declared independence following the end of British rule in the subcontinent on 15 August 1947, choosing not to immediately accede to either India or Pakistan. The statement notes that Kalat remained an independent entity for several months, during which it maintained its own administrative structure and external engagements.
The BJP statement highlights that on 27 March 1948, developments unfolded that significantly altered the political trajectory of Kalat. It refers to reports broadcast by All India Radio, which relayed information from a press conference addressed by V. P. Menon, then Secretary in India’s Ministry of States. The broadcast reportedly conveyed that the Khan of Kalat had expressed a desire for accession to India, but that India, under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, did not pursue such an arrangement.
The statement further suggests that the dissemination of this information contributed to Kalat’s diplomatic isolation at the time. With Pakistan already exerting influence and the international perception shaped by India’s reported stance, the political options available to the ruler of Kalat, Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, were significantly constrained.
The BJP asserts that by the evening of 27 March 1948, the Khan of Kalat opted to accede to Pakistan, marking the end of Kalat’s brief period of independence. The BJP describes this development as a turning point that had a lasting impact on the historical and political landscape of Balochistan.
The statement characterizes the accession as having taken place in a context of mounting pressure and diminishing sovereignty, emphasizing that the transition from independence to accession occurred rapidly within a short span of time.
