บท 20: Cease Fire and Negotiation
The sun had barely risen on the morning of December 16, 1947, but the city of Islamabad was already on the brink of collapse.
The sounds of war had filled the air for days, and after relentless fighting, Major General Arjun Mehta stood victorious at the gates of Pakistan's capital.
The Indian Army, having marched with precision and overwhelming force, had taken Islamabad.
At the same time, the strategic port city of Karachi and the city of Hyderabad had also fallen.
Pakistan was in ruins, its army shattered, and its people exhausted.
Rohan Varma, the Prime Minister of India, stood by his desk in Delhi as the final reports came in.
The war, which had erupted so suddenly, was now drawing to a close.
India had decisively won, capturing almost half of Pakistan's territory, including the vital region of Gilgit-Baltistan.
But with international pressure mounting from all sides, it was clear that continuing the war would invite unwanted chaos.
The phone on Rohan's desk rang sharply, breaking the silence of the room.
Neeraj Kumar, his most trusted advisor, answered it.
After a brief exchange, he turned to Rohan.
"It's done, Prime Minister," Neeraj said. "Islamabad has fallen. We now control all major Pakistani cities."
Rohan nodded slowly
Victory was theirs, but it was not the time to gloat.
The world's eyes were on India, and the international community, especially the United States and the Soviet Union, was growing increasingly restless.
Any further push could result in global chaos.
"It's time to call for a ceasefire," Rohan said decisively. "We've achieved what we set out to do. Now, we need to bring Pakistan to the table and dictate the terms of peace."
Neeraj nodded in agreement, already dialing the numbers to arrange the ceasefire talks. "I'll inform the generals and reach out to the international powers. We'll hold the talks here in Delhi."
"Yes," Rohan said, leaning back in his chair, his eyes distant. "And make sure Mohammad Ali Jinnah attends. I want him to see what he's lost."
The ceasefire negotiations were arranged within days.
Representatives from all the major world powers, including the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France, had flown to Delhi to witness the talks.
Pakistan, now a nation on its knees, was forced to send its military officials and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and leader of Pakistan.
The room was grand, adorned with the flags of the attending nations.
The Indian delegation, led by Rohan Varma, sat at one end of the long table.
Opposite them sat the defeated Pakistani representatives, their faces pale and filled with a mix of resentment and resignation.
Jinnah sat at the center of the Pakistani group, his face ashen and sad
As the talks began
The representatives from the major powers observed carefully, their own interests at play.
But it was clear to everyone that the balance of power had shifted dramatically in India's favor.
Rohan opened the discussion, his voice calm but firm. "We are here today because India has achieved a decisive victory in this conflict. Pakistan is defeated, and the only reason Other cities in Pakistan still stands is because we chose to show restraint. Let us be clear, this war could have ended very differently."
He glanced at Jinnah, whose lips tightened into a thin line.
Rohan continued, "The terms of this ceasefire are simple. India will retain control of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region that rightfully belongs to us and has always been integral to our security. We will also discuss the status of the remaining territories under Pakistani control."
Jinnah, who had remained silent until now, leaned forward, his voice trembling with barely concealed anger. "You may have won this battle, Prime Minister Varma, but you cannot break the will of the Pakistani people. We will rebuild, and we will resist."
Rohan raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "You're in no position to make threats, Jinnah. Look around you. Your country is in shambles. Your military is defeated. You've lost everything except few remaining cities, and that's only because I chose not to turn them into a pile of rubble. This war was a disaster for Pakistan, and it's time you face that reality."
Jinnah's hands trembled, but he remained silent.
The humiliation was crushing. Just few months back they were part of India and called for Independence and today few months after Independence they are still here in India with half of their territories captured.
The international representatives watched the exchange with interest.
The British representative, Lord Mountbatten, cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation towards a resolution. "Prime Minister Varma, Pakistan has indeed suffered greatly, but as a representative of the international community, I urge India to show leniency. The world is watching, and further aggression could destabilize the entire region."
Rohan, unfazed, turned his attention to Mountbatten. "I understand the concerns of the international community, but India will not back down from securing what is rightfully ours. We have no interest in prolonging this conflict, but we will not be bullied into giving up territory that is essential for our security. Gilgit-Baltistan remains with India."
The Soviet representative, Ambassador Gromyko, nodded in agreement. "India's actions in Gilgit-Baltistan are justified. The region is of strategic importance, and given Pakistan's recent aggression, it's clear that India's control over this territory is a necessity for regional stability."
The Americans, led by Secretary of State George Marshall, remained cautious but supportive. "The United States supports a peaceful resolution to this conflict. We believe that India's position is strong, but we urge both sides to come to a diplomatic agreement that will ensure lasting peace."
The discussions continued for hours, with the Pakistani delegation growing more and more frustrated as it became clear that the international community was not willing to come to their defense.
India, having played its cards with precision, was now in full control of the negotiations.
As the talks neared their conclusion, Jinnah, visibly worn down, made one final plea. "Prime Minister Varma, surely there must be room for compromise. Pakistan cannot simply surrender half its territory without some concessions."
Rohan leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Jinnah, you've already lost more than half your country. The only reason you still have Pakistan is because we allowed it. The international community may think they're forcing us to compromise, but I've already achieved what I wanted. Gilgit-Baltistan is ours, and Pakistan is in no position to demand anything more. You should consider yourself lucky that I'm not taking Lahore and Multan as well."
Jinnah's face twisted with humiliation, but he had no choice but to accept the terms.
India had won the war, and now it was dictating the peace.
With the ceasefire agreement signed, the war between India and Pakistan officially came to an end.
Gilgit-Baltistan was now firmly under Indian control, and the rest of Pakistan was left in shambles, its military humiliated and its leadership fractured.
Rohan Varma returned to his office in Delhi that evening.
Neeraj Kumar was already waiting for him, a bottle of whisky and two glasses on the table.
"It's over," Rohan said, sitting down heavily in his chair.
Neeraj poured them both a glass. "You did it, Sir, You've changed the course of history."
Rohan took a sip, the warmth of the whisky spreading through him. "I knew from the beginning that we could never hold all of Pakistan. But I also knew that Gilgit-Baltistan was the key. The world thinks they forced us to compromise, but in reality, we've won everything we wanted."
Neeraj smiled, raising his glass in a toast. "To victory."
Rohan clinked his glass against Neeraj's. "To victory."
As they drank, Rohan allowed himself a moment of satisfaction.
He had secured India's future, reshaped the region, and humiliated Pakistan on the world stage.
And he had done it all without the world realizing that this had been his plan from the very beginning.
The war was over, but the real work of building India's future was just beginning.
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