Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did Maharaja Hari Singh join Jammu and Kashmir to India in October 1947?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Jammu and Kashmir
India: Jhelum River at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
Maharaja Hari Singh initially hoped to maintain the independence of Jammu and Kashmir following the British withdrawal from South Asia in 1947. However, he was compelled to sign the Instrument of Accession to India in October 1947 after his state faced an armed uprising among Muslim subjects along its western borders and an invasion by Pashtun tribesmen.12
By signing this legal document, the Maharaja sought to secure immediate military assistance from India to counter the armed rebellion. This decision effectively integrated the state into the Indian union, which in turn moved to confirm the accession through military intervention, leading to the first war between India and Pakistan over the region.231