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How did the Kashmir dispute begin after the partition of India?

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Jawaharlal Nehru, c. 1930s — Jawaharlal Nehru As India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was in office for more than 16 years, making him the country's longest-serving prime minister.

Following the partition of India in 1947, the Kashmir dispute emerged from the status of princely states, which were granted the choice to join India or Pakistan, or remain independent.12

Hari Singh, the Hindu maharaja of the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir, initially sought to maintain independence. However, his position became untenable following a revolution among his Muslim subjects and an invasion by Pashtun tribesmen from Pakistan. In October 1947, seeking military assistance, the maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian union.1345

This act triggered the first war between India and Pakistan. India moved to confirm the accession, while Pakistan viewed the region as a natural extension of its own territory. The conflict continued until a United Nations-brokered ceasefire took effect in January 1949, establishing a line that divided the administration of the territory. This line, later known as the Line of Control, remains a point of contention today.2315