Kashmir War 1947-1948 India and Research Paper

Both the Maharaja and the Prime Minister agreed to these terms and on October 26 the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession (GlobalSecurity.org 2009)." Indeed, the First Kashmir War had three major personalities / entities vying for control or maintenance thereof of the disputed region; the Indian and Pakistani governments and the Maharaja of Kashmir. Despite wanting to remain independent, the Maharaja could not do so because of the power that could be yielded on him by either Pakistan or India. With Pakistan initiating the hostilities, the Maharaja had no recourse but to ask for India's help albeit the high price of accession required by India.

With the war seeing no end during 1948, "Indian leaders had to approach the United Nations who ultimately introduced Observers in June 1948. A UN brokered cease-fire went into effect on January 1, 1949 (GlobalSecurity.org 2009)." In the same manner as how the Korean War has not actually concluded, the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has never reached a conclusion. With the United Nations coming into the picture in 1949, a Line of Control (LoC) or ceasefire line was established that saw the division of Kashmir between India and Pakistan. The LoC divides Kashmir on an almost two-to-one basis: Indian-administered Kashmir to the east and south; and Pakistani-administered Kashmir to the north and west, which is labeled by Pakistan as 'Azad' (Free) Kashmir (Worthview 2009). This may have been a temporary measure because two other wars ensued with the same reasons as the original one. Now in the 21st, there is no final resolution on the status of Kashmir but of late though, India and Pakistan have been dealing with the matter via peaceful political and diplomatic initiatives. Bibliography: GlobalSecurity.org. Indo-Pakistani Conflict of 1947-48. 21 Feb. 2009. 06 Jan. 2009. .….....