THE SITUATION IN PAKISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79S01011A000500060001-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 17, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 1209
/08/29: CIA-RDP79SO 1011 A00050006O001-8
CONFIDENTIAL
Intelligence Report
No. 5662
THE SITUATION IN P ;K ISTA',N
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of Intelligence Research
Document ' o.
Review of this docatmpnt by CIA has
determined that
D' CIA has no objection to declass
^ It contains information of CIA.
interest that must remain
Classified at TS S 0
Authority: HR 70.2
It contains nothing of CIA interest
Date G N ) Reviewer a t i
Date: October 17, 1951
State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file
DOT
ACo ve?d' Fer-Re ease 2000/08/29: CIA-RDP79S01011 A000500060001
pf~ tBJNFIDENTI.fiT,
 Approved For Release ~2.0~00/08/29 : CIA-RDP79S01011A00050 O 0001-8
CONFIDENTIAL
INTELLIGENCE REPORT
OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE' RESEARCH
THE SITUATION IN PAKISTAN
The Pakistan Radio reports;
Pakistan buried her Prime Minister today while a stunned nation
grieved. Sobbing, sorrowing thousands lined a route heavily guarded by
troops as Liaquat's body was brought from his home to a hallowed cemetery
to be placed beside that of the man he succeeded as the nation's chief,
the revered Mohammed All Jinnah. As the body was borne through the streets
on a flower-decked artillery caisson, Pakistani officials announced for the
first time that they had identified Liaquat's slayer as an Afghanistan
national. It is estimated that between 600,000 and 700,000 persons attended
Liaquat's funeral.
No disorders have been reported in Pakistan. The nation of 80,000,000
remains quiet and officials appear to have the situation well in hand..
In India there have been expressions of profound and sincere regret at
Liaquat's passing, both on the part of Indian officialdom and the Indian
press.
Khwaja Nazimuddin, Governor-General of Pakistan, was appointed interim
Prime Minister. From East Bengal, Nazimuddin renounced his British Knight-
hood in 19+6 but accepted appointment as Governor-General two years later
from King George VI.
Pakistan officials have declared that Liaquat's assassin, Syed Akhtar, was
an Afghan national belonging to the Gadran tribe of Khosh province, in
southern Afghanistan. They state that he had been living in Abbottabad for
sometime, and had pretended to be in business. His name. was reportedly
registered in the provincial police records as a foreign national.
Comment - It would appear that both in India and Pakistan there is clear
red nation of the potentially explosive dangers of the current situation
and a real determination on the part of responsible officials in both
countries to do everything possible to avoid even the smallest incident
which would touch off the latent mass emotionalism. Indian officials,
both at home and in foreign diplomatic posts, have with marked alacrity,
assiduousness and apparent sincerity, hastened to extend their condolences
and sympathies to their Pakistan counterparts. Indian newspapers have been
prompt and unqualified in their expressions of regret.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-F 1iPl Suiul A000500060001-8
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79S0101lA000500060001-8
In Pakistan, after an initial indication that the assassin was a
member of the Khaksar's, a fanatical right-wing religious sect, advoca-
ting holy war against India over Kashmir, the announcement twenty-four
hours later that the slayer had been identified as an Afghan national,
may well be a deliberate government move to shift the focus of public
attention and indignation from India, Kashmir and holy war, to Afghani-
stan and "Pushtoonistan". High Pakistan officials at the center very
likely feel that the venting, of public outrage and indignation against
a smaller and weaker fellow-Muslim nation, can have value as a mass
thermostat release and perhaps little serious permanent effect, whereas
public outcry against India at this time might well do irreparable
damage. India appears to be just as concerned to preserve the peace.
In Bombay, for example, very promptly truckloads of heavily armed police
began intensive patrols for fear that false reports might set ..off Moslem-
Hindu rioting. False reports that a Moslem assassinated Gandhi set off
murderous attacks against Bombay's 400,000 Moslems in 1948. At the present
time it appears likely that Liaquat's assassination will not be allowed
to further worsen relations between India and Pakistan and may indeed mark
the beginning of a partial rapproachment, Indian officials must neces-
sarily have been shaken by Liaquat's sudden and tragic demise and the
shock of their realization of how close to disaster Indo-Pakistan
relations had come, will strengthen the determination in India to avoid
war. The continuing stability in Pakistan and the prompt appointment of
a new premier lends support to the belief that the assassination may have
shocked both sides into a firm determination to settle peacefully.
As the principal government officer in Pakistan, Nazimuddin's
appointment to the Prime Ministership was not illogical. That he has
assumed the post permanently is not clear at this time. He may have taken
over to insure stability and provide time for the Muslim League machinery
to cast up a new national leader. However, since Nazimuddin is a Bengali
and represents a formidable Bengal wing in the Central Government, it is
possible that the pressures of this group may be sufficient to enable
Nazimuddin to retain the post.
Nazimuddin gained ascendancy in Muslim League politics in Nast Bengal
by 1947. This brought him to the post of Governor General upon the death
of jinnah in 1948 when it was felt that an East Bengali should be given the
post in deference to the need for increasing the allegiance of the Bengalis
to the bifurcated state of Pakistan. However, his long record in the
Muslim League and his ability to stand up in East Bengal competition has
given him a substantial political footing; of his own.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79SO101lA000500060001-8
 Approved For Release 2 /08/29 : CIA-RDP79S01011A0005000 01-8
CONFIDENTIAL
-3-
This foundation is rooted in Bengal, however, and West Pakistanis
have tended somewhat to belittle his leadership capacities and his
physical stature -- which is both short and rotound. Educated at
Aligarh and Cambridge in England, Nazimuddin is the son of a Nawab and
husband of a woman whose father was also a large landowner.
His supporters have cited his honesty and integrity in office and
his sincere endeavor to carry out pledges. The British approved of these
virtues and Nazimuddin reciprocated with a tolerant attitude toward the
British. He is considered a man of limited vision, lacking international
mindedness. His views of the United States are unformed bat Generally
felt to respond to the pressures of his aides.
Nazimuddin's critics attacked his Bengal administration on the
grounds that he extended patronage conspicuously to his relatives. His
opponents alleged that he ehared in the profits of his brother.. Shahabuddin,
who was Minister of Commerce, Labor, and Industry in the 1943-1945
Nazimuddin cabinet of Bengal. It was believed that these allegations
were untrue but It was also acknowledged that he relied heavily on
patronage for his influence.
A 1945 estimate of his political ability cited him as "one of the
most colorless figures in Bengal politics...amiable to the point of
weakness." He-was regarded as Jinnah's deputy in Bengal but in 1945,
was not considered an ardent advocate of Pakistan.
Although he went out of office in 1945, Nazimuddin was able to make
a strong recovery and recaptured the Prime Ministership of Bengal in 1947.
He had served as Indian Delegate to a Food conference in the U.S. in
2.946, represented India in the last session of the League of Nations in
1946, .and also served as a member of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly
in 1947. He was a conspicuous compromiser, and managed to escape much of
the hostility engendered toward his colleagues during the critical days
of the Bengal famine. Observers did not regard him as a capable administra-
tor but he has shown a capacity to act as an effective balance-wheel be-
tween contesting cabinet factions, a useful accomplishment for any head
of the government in Pakistan.
There have been rumors in recent months that the late Liaquat All.
Khan did not appro?ae of the pressures and/or ambitions o-" the cabinet
alliance of the East Bengal brothers, Naziddin and Shahabuddin. Some
conjecture existed to the effect that one or the other would be relieved.
It is believed, however, that Nazimuddin's frequent nation-wide tours have
had some salutary effect in enhancing his national prestige. As chief
of state, he will bring skill as a coordinator but is generally estimated
to lack the drive and imagtnat cwto be a poUcy"cv*atc ? Eta policies
Pill in al,l,likelihood be dictated by the prevailing views of the Muslim
League hierarchy.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79S01011A000500060001-.8
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79S0101lA000500060001-8
CONFIDENTIAL
-4-
it is believed that Nazimuddin's appointment as Prime minister
will be welcomed by India since he is regarded as a moderate. While
Nazimuddin does not have the strength wheich Liaquat had and will be
less able to resist pressures, he is nevertheless regarded as basically
pro-Western and may be expected to continue Liaquat's policy of favoring
the West although he will doubtless be even more constrained and limited
in this respect by domestic anti-Western pressures than was Liaquat.
It has been announced in London that the KingLas appointed Ghulam
Mohammed as Pakistan's new Governor-General. Very definitely pro-Western,
Ghulam Mohammed had been Finance Minister in Liaquat's cabinet. He is
a controversial figure and only on his ability does there appear to be a
measure of agreement. Most of those who know him and work with him
describe him as one of the ablest men in the government of Pakistan.
His past service in undivided India with the Tate interests adds
weight to this impression. Because of his conservative financial views
Ghulam Mohammed is generally respected by the business community. He is
extremely well informed on methods and procedures of banking and business.
He has visited the United States several times in connection with the
affairs of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank.
He has been the prime mover in the formation of a permanent organization
of Islamic countries which would provide economic and political cooperation
F;mong its members. In this connection, Ghulam Mohammed made the inaugural
address at the Pakistan sponsored International Islamic Economic Conference,
Which convened in Karachi in November 1949. He-bee asked for thesupport of
the u.S. in the establishment of an Economic Commission for the Middle East
under the auspices of the U.N., similar to the Economic Commission for Asia
and the Far East. At the second Islamic conference at Teheran which was
attended by representatives of eleven nations, Ghulam Mohammed was elected
president for the next three years. Ghulam Mohammed has repeatedly invited
alive 3tment of foreign capital in Pakistan, always adding, of course "pro-
vidie' there are no political strings attached". His health has recently
been prior; he is spar to be suffering from hypertansion and earlier in the
year reporte'U y suffered a stroke. His elevation to Governor-General will
zmdoubtedly neigh texi his already large influence in the cabinet and will
tend to counter-balance by a vigorous pro-Western outlook, any compromising
tendency in the other direction which may be expressed by Nazimuddin from
time to time under domestic political pressure.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79S0101lA000500060001-8