COMMITTEE: Historical UN Security Council
Historical Security Council
Topic: Situation in India and Pakistan, 1948
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMITEE
Under Chapter V of the United Nations Charter,
the Security Council is responsible for the
maintenance of international peace and security.
Complaints regarding breaches of peace are
brought before the Council and its members
decide how to act, often exploring diplomatic
and peaceful alternatives over more aggressive
options. In order to more adequately understand
the security threat at hand, the Council will often
initiate fact-finding missions and investigations;
The United Nations Security Council chambers at
the Council will also pursue mediation initiatives UN Headquarters in New York City
usually augmented by the appointment of special
representatives or the recommendation of the UN Source: UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz
Secretary-General to lead such efforts.1
Objective of the UN Security Council
In order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its members
confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of
international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under
this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf.
Source: Article 24, United Nations Charter
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Veto: a special voting
power. If any country
with a veto votes
“no” the resolution
automatically fails.
Independence: not
being controlled by a
foreign power.
Civil disobedience:
refusal to comply
with certain laws or
to pay taxes and fines
as a peaceful form of
political protest.
Colonial: when one
powerful nation
controls or governs
another region.
Hinduism: a major
and ancient religious
tradition in India,
including belief in
many gods and a
caste system.
In 1948, the Security Council was made up of 11 member states of the United
Nations; today, it has 15 member states. The council has always consisted of
the permanent five (P5) nations: China, France, the Soviet Union (today: the
Russian Federation), the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The P5 nations hold a veto-power, an ability which allows the nation to stop
any resolution or amendment from passing. In addition to the five permanent
members, six non-permanent members were each elected for two year terms.
For a resolution to pass in the Security Council, it required seven votes in
favor, with none of the permanent members voting against. It is important to
know that the Security Council is the only UN body that can issue binding
resolutions under Chapter VII, which means that breaking a Security Council
resolution is considered against international law.
INTRODUCTION
After spending many years ruled by the British, the Indian people began to
push for independence. With the guidance of important leaders, most
notably Mohandas Gandhi, Indians used methods of civil disobedience and
non-violence to oppose their colonial rulers. After years of effort by the
Indian people and the decline of the British Empire, in 1947 colonialism
ended in India and the people were given their freedom.
Islam: one of the
world’s most common
religions, with belief
in one god and roots
similar to Christianity
and Judaism.
Giving independence to India was a difficult process because of the diverse
population. There were two major religions in India that had very different
ideas about what independence should look like, Hinduism and Islam, and
eventually it was decided that two states would be created, Hindu India and
Muslim Pakistan. The region was split in two based mostly on religion and
geography but it was still a very difficult process. Months after independence,
the fate of the beautiful region of Kashmir, located at the border of the two
countries, had not been decided. Militants suspected of being supported by
Pakistan attempted to take over the region. The Indian army responded, and
the conflict became very violent very quickly.
Militant: a person
who uses force or
violence to support a
political or social
cause.
The UN Security Council needed to come up with a solution to this growing
conflict. Its actions were very important for the stability in the region. Any
delay in addressing this issue would only makes things worse and lead to
more violence in the region.
BACKGROUND
British Occupation in India
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CRITICAL THINKING
What do you know
about colonialism
and the United
Nations? What are
some of the reasons
the UN might have
moved away from
colonialism? Why do
you think it was
unpopular in India?
The British first set up a presence in the Indian subcontinent
in the early 17th century through the East India Company
(EIC), which established trade with the Mughal Empire, which was ruling the
region at the time. This relationship grew throughout the 17th century. The
situation began to change in the 18th century, when the power of the Mughal
Empire was fading and the EIC took advantage of the situation. The trading
organization began to fight for and take control of the region. By the mid1700s, the EIC had gained control over most of the subcontinent. At this
point, the company worked less as a trading organization and more as an
occupying force. It was through the EIC that Great Britain ruled India.
Beginning in 1748, the British began recruiting Indians to fight for their
causes. These Sepoys soon became a large fighting force for the British.
As the British continued to expand within India, tensions between the
Sepoys and the British grew, and minor fights broke out from time to
time. These tensions became serious with the introduction of a specific
kind of weapon known as the Enfield rifle. Sepoys had to bite off the tips
of the bullets before loading them into the gun. The grease on the
cartridges was often made from beef or pork, which was offensive to
Hindus (who believe cows are sacred) and Muslims (who see pigs as
unclean and do not eat pork).
With the rifles serving as a trigger, the Sepoys violently rebelled against
the British. However, within a year, the British put down the Sepoy
rebellion. The first long-term impact of this event was the removal of
the EIC as rulers of India and the institution of direct British rule. This
organized show of Indian, rather than regional, discontent was the first
sign of the independence movement within India.
Indian National Congress
Satyagraha: the
form of nonviolent
resistance initiated
in India by Gandhi in
order to oppose
British rule.
Ahimsa: nonviolence
towards all living
things.
Boycott: to stop
buying or using
specific things as an
act of political
protest.
Khadi: coarse
homespun cotton
cloth made in India.
An important part of the independence movement in India
was the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885.
Its original purpose was to increase Indian representation in
the government. After a few years, the Indian National
Congress began to push for bigger changes and parts of the
group began to oppose the British. However, it was not until
1929 that the organization specifically said that it wanted and
was working toward full independence for India. Many of the
most important leaders in India’s independence movement,
including Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammed Ali
Jinnah, were deeply involved in the Indian National
Congress.
Indian subcontinent: the
part of Asia that extends
into the Indian Ocean,
now divided among India,
Pakistan and other
nations.
Occupy: to take over and
control.
Sepoy: a native Indian
who was a soldier in the
British military service
within India.
Rebellion: An act of
violent or open resistance
to a government or ruler.
Discontent: unhappiness.
Representation: speaking
or acting for someone.
Gandhi: the peaceful
Hindu leader of the Indian
independence movement.
Nehru: another Hindu
leader.
Jinnah: a Muslim leader
of the movement who
wanted Muslims to have
their own state.
Gandhi
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The leader and symbol of the Indian independence movement was
Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi. His methods were incredibly important in
the Indian struggle against the British. The primary method Gandhi used was
satyagraha; which involved civil disobedience and non-cooperation with the British.
This method, along with ahimsa, or non-violence, separated the Indian independence
movement from earlier groups resisting colonial rule.
One of the ways in which Gandhi led the resistance of
British rule was by boycotting British and other
foreign-made goods. Gandhi encouraged Indians to be
self-sufficient by rejecting Western clothing in favor
of the traditional homespun khadi. In 1930, Gandhi
led the Salt March, in which thousands of Indians
marched nearly 250 miles to the sea to make their
own salt. This march was a protest against the salt
taxes the Indian had to pay the British. This tax made
it mostly impossible to produce salt locally and made
India dependent on the British for this common good.
Through displays such as these, Gandhi was able to
mobilize the Indian population and frustrate the
British rulers. The British tried many times to weaken
his influence, often by putting him in jail, but they did
not succeed.
Indian Leader Mohandas Gandhi
Source: education-images.blogspot.com
“If my letter makes no appeal to your heart, on the eleventh day of this month I
shall proceed with such co-workers of the Ashram as I can take, to disregard the
provisions of the Salt Laws. I regard this tax to be the most iniquitous of all from
the poor man's standpoint. As the Independence movement is essentially for the
poorest in the land, the beginning will be made with this evil.”
—Gandhi in a letter to the Viceroy, warning of his plans of civil disobedience
Jinnah and the Two State Solution
Another important player in the Indian independence movement was Mohammad Ali
Jinnah, a powerful Muslim leader who is credited with the creation of Pakistan. He joined
the Indian National Congress in 1906 and was originally an advocate for a unified India.
He was a leader of the Muslim League, a specifically Muslim independence group, as
well and helped maintain relations between the two political groups early on. Jinnah
looked to protect the rights of Muslims within an Indian state.
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Over the years, Jinnah’s
position toward the
creation of India began
to change. In 1940, Jinnah and the
Muslim League advocated the Lahore
resolution. This resolution supported a
two-state solution, in which there would
be two separate independent states, one
Hindu and one Muslim. This was first
introduced in 1930, but only began to
gain popularity at this time. This was in
contrast to what Gandhi and Nehru
wanted, since they both supported a
unified Indian state. Rising tensions
between Hindus and Muslims and
tensions over this issue led to violence
breaking out all over India in 1946.
Although the Indian National Congress
was strongly opposed to the two-state
solution, it eventually gave in to avoid
India just prior to independence
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
further violence and potential civil war.
Partition and Population Migration
In 1947, the British finally left the
Indian subcontinent, and two
nations were born. Pakistan
celebrated
independence
on
August 14, 1947, and India
followed on the next day, August
15. Jawaharlal Nehru became
Prime Minister in India, while in
Pakistan, Jinnah became the head
of state. Pakistan was made up of
two parts on either side of India,
East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
and West Pakistan. Pakistan was
declared a Muslim state, while
India, although predominantly
Hindu, was declared a secular
nation.
An overcrowded train transferring refugees during the partition
of India in 1947; this was considered the largest migration in
human history
Source: Unknown photographer, Wiki Commons
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At the time of partition, many Hindus lived in the region that became
Pakistan and many Muslims lived (and still live) in India. There was a
mass population migration between the two countries that was marked by
violence among those traveling in opposite directions. Many people died not only from
the fighting, but from the difficulty of migrating. Millions of people traveled across the
borders. Unfortunately, the two governments were not prepared for the size of the
migration and the violence that accompanied it. This violence only set the stage for a
future of troubled relations between the two newly formed nations.
Kashmir
The split between India and Pakistan was mainly based on the religion of people in an
area and major geographic dividing lines, such as rivers or mountains. About half of the
subcontinent was directly ruled by the British and was divided in this fashion. However,
the other half was made up of small states ruled by princes that were loosely controlled
by the British and directly governed by Maharajas. These Maharajas had the option to
become part of India or Pakistan. For most, this was a simple decision based on religion
and location.
Partition: breaking
something into parts.
Migration: movement
of people from one
place to another.
Maharaja: an Indian
prince.
Uprising: violent
resistance, a rebellion
or revolt.
Tribesmen: men
belonging to a
traditional tribe or
group.
Intervention: being
involved in another
country’s affairs.
Accession: agreeing to
join something.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir was the
exception. This region was located at the border of
India and Pakistan. A Hindu Maharaja, Hari Singh,
ruled it, but the population was mostly Muslim.
Leaders of both India and Pakistan wanted Kashmir
to be part of their respective nations. When both
nations became independent, the fate of Kashmir
had not yet been decided. It was unclear whether
Hari Singh wanted to become independent or was
simply trying to decide which nation would give
him an arrangement he liked better.
CRITICAL THINKING
Do people have a right to
choose which country they
want to belong to, or do
their rulers? When ideas
between the two differ,
what can be done to
reconcile them?
CURRENT SITUATION
Soon after independence, an uprising began led by Muslims within Kashmir
with the support of Pakistani tribesmen. It was widely believed that these
fighters were backed by the government of Pakistan, but there was no clear
evidence to support the claim. India and Pakistan had signed a nonintervention agreement about Kashmir, and becoming involved would have
broken the agreement. Hari Singh looked to India to intervene, but India
would only act upon accession, as any official action without accession
would clearly violate the agreement. Given this situation, Singh formally
joined Kashmir to India in October 1947.
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Once Singh signed the document
acceding Kashmir to India, Indian
forces entered Kashmir to claim and
secure the region. The Indian Army
made substantial progress against
the revolutionaries and tribesmen,
gaining control of much of the
region. In January 1948, the UN
Security Council passed Resolution
39, setting up a committee of three
members to help resolve the crisis
and provide a recommendation to
the Security Council.
It is now March of 1948. The Indian
Army continues to make progress
Scenic view of a Kashmiri valley in 1948
Source: UN Photo/AF
against insurgents in Kashmir.
Pakistan argues that Singh’s title as
a Maharaja was simply an appointment of the British, and therefore he does not have the
authority to decide Kashmir’s fate and call in the Indian Army. Pakistan has still not
officially entered the conflict, although it is widely believed to be providing support to
the opposition. The conflict has now lasted over six months, leading to significant
civilian casualties, instability in the region and increasingly poor relations between the
two South Asian neighbors. The international community is looking to the UN Security
Council to take action.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CREATING A RESOLUTION
As set out in the UN
Charter, the Security
Council was given
more authority and
Civilian: a non-military
power than any
person.
other UN organ;
therefore,
the
Casualty: a person killed
council’s
resolutions
or injured.
have greater weight
Instability: being
due to the nature of
unstable or unsafe, prone
the committee. The
to change.
resolutions should
look at the situation in India and
Pakistan, specifically within Kashmir,
as comprehensively as possible.
Insurgent: a person
fighting against the
government.
Delegates need to comprehend the dire
The UN Security Council meets to discuss Kashmir
Source: UN Photo/JO
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situation in the region; it is not a simple matter of defining frontiers
because innocent lives are involved and must be protected, while at the
same time, Pakistan’s and India’s policies must be understood.
In conclusion, delegates should expect to draft a resolution that discusses and works to
incorporate the various actors in the conflict. Not only should it discuss the current
situation on the ground, but also the political implications, humanitarian implications and
potential consequences that may arise from your proposed policies and solutions.
RESEARCH AID
The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations website is a good source of information
on all peacekeeping missions, past and present.

UNDPKO: www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/bnote.htm
The CIA’s World Factbook is a great source for encyclopedic information on countries.
By looking at the pages for both India and Pakistan, you can glean important information
about each one’s history as it relates to this issue.

The World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-worldfactbook/
The United Nations and Decolonization website is a good source of information related
to decolonization, including relevant historic documents.

United Nations and Decolonization:
http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/index.shtml
Questions to Consider:
1. Is your country a former colony? Does it hold colonies? How does this affect your
perspective on India and Pakistan?
2. Does the United Kingdom, as the former colonial master of India and Pakistan,
have any responsibility in their futures?
3. What responsibility do nations have for revolutionaries and militias operating from
their territory?
4. Can action be taken without damaging more people’s lives? On the other hand,
can inaction be accepted?
Remember that this simulation takes place in 1948! How would your country have acted in
the past? Would you have done anything differently if you were in charge in that time?
REFERENCES
1
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_functions.html
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Stein
BERMUN2 Historical Security Council
Background Guide Update
CURRENT SITUATION
Soon after independence, Muslims began and uprising within Kashmir with the support
of Pakistani tribesmen. Many believed that these fighters were backed by the
government of Pakistan, but there was a lack of clear evidence to support the claim.
India and Pakistan had signed a non-intervention agreement concerning Kashmir,
meaning that becoming involved would have broken the agreement. Hari Singh
requested armed assistance from India, but India would only act following Kashmir's
accession. Given this situation, Singh formally joined Kashmir to India in October 1947.
Both Pakistan and India decided to confirm the accession by referendum after the threat
to the region had passed.
Once Singh signed the document acceding Kashmir to India, Indian forces entered
Kashmir to claim and secure the region. The Indian Army made substantial progress
against the revolutionaries and tribesmen, gaining control of much of the region. On
December 31st 1947, India formally appealed for UN involvement. In January 1948, the
UN Security Council passed Resolution 39, setting up a committee of three members to
help resolve the crisis and provide a recommendation to the Security Council. The
USSR's influence on the final outcome of the conflict remains ambiguous, because of
their abstention during the vote for Resolution 39.
It is now March of 1948. The Indian Army continues to make progress against insurgents
in Kashmir. Pakistan argues that Singh’s title as a Maharaja was simply an appointment
of the British, and therefore he does not have the authority to decide Kashmir’s fate and
call in the Indian Army. Pakistan has still not officially entered the conflict, although it is
widely believed to be providing support to the opposition. The conflict has now lasted
over six months, leading to significant civilian casualties, instability in the region and
increasingly poor relations between the two South Asian neighbors. The international
community is looking to the UN Security Council to take action.
Sources and Useful Articles
United Nations Report
http://www.un.org/en/sc/repertoire/64-65/Chapter%208/64-65_08-3-The%20IndiaPakistan%20question.pdf
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Background on the Conflict
http://www.pakun.org/kashmir/history.php
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/topics/the-road-to-partition.htm
FAQ’s on Kashmir
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10537286
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/south_asia/2002/india_pakistan/timeline/
1947_48.stm
http://www.kashmirreader.com/12312013-ND-ussr-and-un-resolutions-25308.aspx
http://books.google.de/books?id=qM6kW9ZRMRkC&pg=PA210&lpg=PA210&dq=un+del
iberations+Kashmir+conflict&source=bl&ots=fpJdgshe6l&sig=Fp720uUQUtoBF0ZnEJBZ
-jz1cNI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=U0zNUq2bN8TFswb57YHoBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
Map of the Region of Kashmir
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Kashmir_region_2004.jpg
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