z:\ ambedkar\vol 08\vol8 03.indd MK SJ+YS 28 9 2013 67
CHAPTER V
WEAKENING OF THE DEFENCES
How will the creation of Pakistan affect the question of the Defence of Hindustan ? The question is not a very urgent one. For, there is no reason to suppose that Pakistan will be at war with Hindustan immediately it is brought into being. Nevertheless, as the question is sure to be raised, it is better to deal with it.
The question may be considered under three heads : (1) Question of Frontiers, (2) Question of Resources and (3) Question of Armed Forces.
I
QUESTION OF FRONTIERS
It is sure to be urged by the Hindus that Pakistan leaves Hindustan without a scientific frontier. The obvious reply, of course, is that the Musalmans cannot be asked to give up their right to Pakistan, because it adversely affects the Hindus in the matter of their boundaries. But banter apart, there are really two considerations, which, if taken into account, will show that the apprehensions of the Hindus in this matter are quite uncalled for.
In the first place, can any country hope to have a frontier which may be called scientific ? As Mr. Davies, the author of North-West Frontier, observes :
“It would be impossible to demarcate on the NorthWest of our Indian Empire a frontier which would satisfy ethnological, political and military requirements. To seek for a zone which traverses easily definable geographical features; which does not violate ethnic considerations by cutting through the territories of closely related tribes; and which at the same time serves as a political boundary, is utopian.”