Today, the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah is being recognized widely as Pakistan approaches its 78th Independence Day in 2025. The emotional sentiments of pakistani nation for Quaid-e-Azam are reflecting not only on national pride but also on the global recognition and respect Pakistan received even before its formal inception.
Historically, after the world emerged from the devastation of World War II and the sun set on the British Empire, a new global order was beginning to take shape. In the midst of this geopolitical reorganization, one remarkable episode stands out: the United States’ invitation to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, to visit the US even before the dust of Partition had fully settled.
This gesture, often overlooked in conventional narratives, is deeply symbolic. It proves that the U.S. recognized Jinnah’s stature not just as a regional leader, but as a global statesman. More importantly, it is a testament to the idea that Pakistan was seen from its earliest days as a potential strategic partner and natural ally of the United States on the diplomatic stage.
The Historical Context: 1946–1947
By the mid-1940s, the political climate in South Asia had reached a boiling point. The demand for a separate Muslim homeland had been formally articulated through the Lahore Resolution of 1940, and by 1946, the All-India Muslim League had emerged as the only representative body of Muslim political will.
At the same time, American diplomats posted in British India were closely monitoring the rise of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Regular dispatches from the U.S. Consulate in Delhi and Karachi emphasized that the Muslim League, under Jinnah’s guidance, had become a political reality that Washington could no longer ignore.
One such dispatch from George Merrell, U.S. political officer in New Delhi, described Jinnah as:
“A figure of immense intellectual and political influence whose movement has outgrown its previous limitations to become a decisive force in the future of South Asia.”
Quaid-e-Azam is frequently referred to in U.S. diplomatic cables as the “leader of Muslim India” and as the primary representative of the Muslim League. This growing recognition prompted the State Department in Washington to consider establishing early diplomatic engagement with the leadership of the soon-to-be-formed Pakistan.
It is believed that in March 1947, just five months before Pakistan’s independence, American officials invited Quaid-e-Azam for a possible post-independence goodwill visit to the U.S. — an offer that remained unfulfilled due to Jinnah’s declining health.
The Invitation: Symbol of Respect and Strategic Foresight
According to documented sources in both Pakistani and U.S. archives, an unofficial but formal message was conveyed to Quaid-e-Azam in early 1947 through diplomatic channels. The message invited Jinnah to visit the United States after the formal creation of Pakistan.
Although the visit never materialized due to Jinnah’s rapidly declining health, the fact that such an invitation was extended even before Pakistan’s independence on August 14, 1947 is highly significant.
Historian Stanley Wolpert, in his landmark biography Jinnah of Pakistan, refers to this diplomatic gesture as:
“One of the earliest acts of Western recognition of Jinnah’s global statesmanship, affirming Pakistan’s destined place in the new world order.”
This was no ordinary invitation — it represented the interest of the United States in maintaining friendly ties with both India and Pakistan, and preserving balance and access in a region where Cold War lines were already being drawn.
A Telegram from Truman: The Formal Follow-up
While the actual visit never happened, President Harry S. Truman sent a telegram to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 15, 1947, formally recognizing the creation of Pakistan. The message extended sincere congratulations and welcomed Pakistan to the “community of nations.” In this way, the United States became one of the first countries to recognize Pakistan just after the independence achieved.
This early outreach reinforced the idea that the United States saw Pakistan as a democratic partner from the very beginning. It also signaled America’s interest in fostering ties with the Muslim world, particularly with a modern, forward-looking state like Pakistan.
Diplomatic Correspondence and American Outreach
Numerous records from the “Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS)” series show how American diplomats engaged extensively with Quaid-e-Azam and other Muslim League leaders in the months leading to Partition. Their memorandums reflect admiration for Quaid-e-Azam’s legal mind, diplomatic discipline, and his commitment to a peaceful transfer of power.
A 1947 U.S. State Department memo described Pakistan as:
“A strategic Muslim-majority state with access to the Arabian Sea, possessing the potential to serve as a stabilizing ally in a volatile region.”
Clearly, the seeds of a U.S.–Pakistan diplomatic alliance were planted well before Pakistan’s birth.
Strategic Dimensions of the Message
The early U.S. acknowledgment of Quaid-e-Azam and Pakistan’s emerging role in South Asia served multiple strategic interests:
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Countering Soviet Influence: As the Cold War was beginning to take shape, South Asia was viewed as a key region. The U.S. saw Pakistan as a potential ally in its containment strategy against the Soviet Union.
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Balance of Power in the Subcontinent: The United States recognized that a united India dominated by a single political party might not serve the balance-of-power doctrine. By acknowledging Pakistan early, the U.S. preserved its leverage over both emerging states.
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Muslim World Outreach: As the leader of the free world, America sought goodwill among the newly independent Muslim-majority nations. Engaging with Pakistan, a country conceived as a homeland for Muslims, aligned with this broader strategy.
Historical References and Sources
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Jinnah Papers, Volume I – On the Threshold of Pakistan (Ed. Dr. Zawwar Hussain Zaidi)
Documents messages received from foreign powers, including pre- and post-independence outreach. -
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1947, Vol. III
Detailed cables and memos from U.S. envoys in India and Pakistan. -
Stanley Wolpert, Jinnah of Pakistan (Oxford University Press, 1984)
Discusses the invitation and early U.S.–Pakistan diplomacy. -
Truman Presidential Library Archives
Contains the full text of President Truman’s congratulatory message to Jinnah. -
Hector Bolitho, Jinnah: Creator of Pakistan (John Murray, 1954)
Describes the growing international stature of Jinnah.
Pakistan and the U.S.: A Natural Diplomatic Fit
The early American outreach to Jinnah was not merely symbolic. It was rooted in shared democratic aspirations, mutual respect, and strategic alignment.
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Both countries were born out of a struggle for freedom against colonial powers.
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Both upheld, at least in principle, democratic governance and constitutionalism.
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Both recognized the importance of regional and international stability.
These shared values laid the groundwork for a relationship that would see Pakistan become a key Cold War ally, a strategic partner in global anti-terror efforts, and a nation central to peace in South Asia.
Quaid-e-Azam’s Vision of Foreign Policy
Quaid-e-Azam, in his speeches post-1947, consistently spoke of a foreign policy based on peace, friendship, and mutual respect. He welcomed all nations — East and West — to build partnerships with Pakistan.
In a radio broadcast in 1948, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah said:
“Our foreign policy is one of friendliness and goodwill towards all nations of the world.”
It is fitting, then, that the first global superpower to extend the hand of friendship was the United States.
Conclusion: From Diplomatic Courtesy to Strategic Partnership
The US invitation extended to Quaid-e-Azam for visiting Washington in 1947, even before Pakistan was formally born, is a powerful reminder that Pakistan has always been envisioned as a global player, not an isolated state.
It underscores that Pakistan’s alliance with the United States is not a product of circumstance but of vision — a relationship based on shared values and strategic foresight.
On the occasion of 78th Independence Day, revisiting this forgotten diplomatic chapter is not just an exercise in history — it’s a guidepost for the future. It reminds both nations that their bilateral relationship is not an option — it is natural.
Mr. Sabahuddin Qazi is Editor-in-chief of the Press Network of Pakistan.
