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Maharaja Hari Singh entered in to a standstill agreement with India and Pakistan. However, Pakistan felt that Jammu and Kashmir being a Muslim-dominated state, it should accede to Pakistan in accordance with the general principles of Partition. Suspecting the intentions of the Maharaja and anxious to secure the state without loss of time, it launched an invasion on Jammu and Kashmir on October 20, 1947. Pakistan initially utilised tribesmen from the North West Frontier Province, ex-soldiers, deserters from the state forces and personnel of the regular army supposedly on leave.
During this period, Sheikh Abdullah formed a popular government. On its part, Pakistan set up the so-called Azad Kashmir government and formed an Azad Kashmir Army to liberate Kashmir. While efforts to clean up the valley were going on, the Government of India also appealed to the UN to intervene in the case and get Pakistan to stop it's aggression. A memorandum was presented to the Security Council on December 30, 1947.
One should remember that the political and social set-up of the two new nations were totally different from what it is now. India and Pakistan were non-players on the world stage. Both States were insufficient in military capabilities and had a non-existent economy. Kashmir had not yet woken up to the realities of political independence. At this juncture, Pakistan made its first great blunder, of unleashing terror that it could not control. This alienated the people from Pakistan instead of endearing them to it.
This conflict did bring out salient features in the political and military spheres that would not have come up had the situation not arisen. In the political sphere, it must be remembered that the 1947-48 war was really forced on India in its infancy. There was not much time to react, or any preparation possible. It should also be remembered that no military assistance could be rendered unless the state acceded to India. Such a situation needed sagacity of a high order to understand the vital national interests at that point of time.
Had the Indian forces been allowed to continue the operation for a few months more, perhaps the enemy could have been evicted even from the remainder of the territory under its occupation. However, being conscious of the need to restore peace and having complete faith in the UN to ensure justice, the Indian government agreed to the ceasefire.
The period during 1947-48 is unthinkable by today's standards. Every document of this episode in Kashmir's history clearly points out towards the unnecessary evil act of Pakistan. R Ramakrishnan Published on 7th July 2002 Previous Articles
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It
was Jinnah's idea of sending 'Razakars' into the valley and draw the Kashmiris' will towards their side. However, things did not go as he had envisaged. What turned out was a bloody orgy of plunder and rape against any human, Hindu or Muslim, who stood in the way of the tribesmen. This was the first fatal mistake that Pakistan had made regarding Kashmir, a mistake that only alienated it from the population.
On October 24, 1947, the Maharaja requested the Government of India for military aid and on October 26 signed the 'Instrument of Accession to India' with the concurrence of Sheikh Abdullah. On October 27, India despatched troops to the state.
Broadly, the Indian Army's operations in Jammu and Kashmir fall into two parts: the initial response to clear the raiders from the Valley, and to recapture maximum territory lost and link up isolated garrisons.
In the words of General Mohd Musa, later commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Army, "It seems that the tribesmen who had gone to Kashmir to help the Muslim population of the state against their ruthless oppressors and in resisting their tyranny, were not guided by the so-called leaders who were actuated by personal motives of self-glorification."
Pakistan always supported the 'Two Nation Theory' and thus Muslim-dominated lands came under its domain. India, on the other hand, always went by people's will. Thus, while accepting the Instrument of Accession, it ensured that the request had the support of the people, as represented by the major political party, the Muslim National Conference, led by Sheikh Abdullah.
A unique feature of these operations was the excellent rapport that developed between the local civilian population and the military that went to their aid. Senior political personalities like Bakshi, Dhar and Nazir maintained constant liaison with the Army and even accompanied them during operations. Even the locals aided the military by providing valuable intelligence and logistics. As the areas were liberated, the Army extended medical help, built roads and helped in the reconstruction of a ravaged state.
