Princely States #3: Kashmir

Kashmir had a Hindu ruler and a Muslim majority. It was for this reason Jinnah just assumed it would come to Pakistan, and did little to nothing to ensure the outcome. Nehru, on the other hand, had a personal connection to the state, writes Sam Dalrymple in Shattered Lands.

 

The Partition led to massacres in Punjab, some of which began to spill over into Kashmir. When Muslims in Poonch appealed to Pakistan to do something, an informal go ahead was given but not via the Pakistani Army (that would have amounted to war). Instead, the Muslim League National Guards (somewhat similar to RSS) were assigned the task. They added a tribal army (lashkar) to their troops. What about payment? They were authorized to loot places as payment. A fateful decision, as it would turn out.

 

The troops would spend an inordinate amount of time looting Muzaffarabad, in turn delaying their taking all of Kashmir, most importantly Srinagar airport. The Maharaja of Kashmir asked India to intervene. India insisted he sign the agreement to accede to India first. What followed is disputed to this day. Did the Act of Accession to India get signed first? Or did India get impatient and land troops in Kashmir before he signed? Regardless, Sheikh Abdullah was installed as the head of the local administration. His connections and contacts in the valley would prove vital to the success of India. At this point, several British officers began to matter. The British commander-in-chief of the Pakistani Army refused Jinnah’s order to take Kashmir (This led to Jinnah to believe the British were pro-India). But a few junior British officers decided to act on behalf of Pakistan anyway and took over Gilgit (This led to India to believe the British were pro-Pakistan). Certain sub-provinces of Kashmir meanwhile agreed to joining Pakistan. But Jinnah hesitated – he was worried if he accepted a few sub-provinces, he may lose claim to all of Kashmir.

 

At this point, Mountbatten made a proposal. The lashkar should withdraw from occupied areas; India would conduct a plebiscite a la Junagadh. Patel was willing to concede Kashmir provided Pakistan would concede Hyderabad. It felt like an easy enough choice to make. But Jinnah’s deep mistrust of Mountbatten now kicked in, and he refused. Mountbatten was incredulous – couldn’t Jinnah see a plebiscite would win him all of Kashmir? Personal relations (or lack of them) can influence history in so many ways…

 

Then the Indian army began to bomb the lashkar. Pakistan was hesitant to declare send in its own army (that would amount to war), and so the lashkar got pushed out of Srinagar and its vicinity. And thus we got to where we have been ever since – Pakistan kept what the lashkar had taken; India got the rest.

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