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