An Account of the First Indo-Pak War (1947-1948)

When the British relinquished their control over India, the 565 independent princely states were given the option to join either of the two nations-i,e. India or Pakistan. A few princely states among them were the Mirs of Hunza, Nagar and Kalat, readily joined Pakistan, but the rest, except Hyderabad (the largest of the princely states with 132,000 square kilometers and a population of more than 14 million), Jammu and Kashmir (with 3 million inhabitants), and Junagadh (with a population of 545,000)--merged with India.The Hindu maharajah of predominantly Muslim Jammu and Kashmir remained uncommitted until armed tribesmen and regular troops from Pakistan infiltrated his domain, inducing him to sign the Instrument of Accession to India on October 27, 1947. Pakistan refused to accept the legality of the accession, and, as a result, war broke out.…