LAHORE: The division of India was the British government agenda to keep its influence in the region in the future, though Americans longed for the united subcontinent.

Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, a Sweden-based political scientist and author of two books on the subject, said this during a lecture here on Friday.

The Lahore chapter of Awami Workers Party (AWP) organised the event in memory of Jamil Umar, the communist leader who remained part of different labour movements in Pakistan.

Dr Ahmed teaches political science at Stockholm University and is a visiting professor at the Government College University, Lahore.

His lecture was on ‘Partition and the formation of garrison state’.

He said his upcoming book would unfold all hidden stories of Partition, particularly the role of the All India Muslim League (AIML) in the division.

“Americans were afraid of Russian and Chinese influence over the divided India. They were of the view that communism would engulf the region if it fell apart,” Dr Ahmed said.

He pointed out flaws in the policy of Congress about showing carelessness towards protecting the rights of the minorities, including the Muslims, giving a chance to the All India Muslim League to take advantage of the situation.

The Congress-led ‘Quit India Movement’ of 1942, according to him, provided the rare opportunity to the AIML to strengthen its root among Muslims.

“All the Congress leadership was in jails and there was a leadership gap. Jinnah took advantage of the situation and emerged as a leader of Muslims in the eyes of British,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.