I have three points to make on the accession of Kashmir to India.
- If the 71 War was instigated by the Pakistan Army by virtue of not relinquishing power to the elected representatives, the 1965 War, by the same logic was instigated by India by ensuring that post- Sheikh Abdullah, the government in Held Kashmir would be selected by New Delhi, and not elected by the people. Quibble if you must but in spirit the two scenarios had a substantial bit in common.
- On the 48 war, read Alaistair Lamb, whose work is still regarded as definitive on the subject of Kashmir. If you read him, you will find that the first foreign troops to enter Kashmir were NOT from Pakistan’s side. This was a regiment of the state of Patiala that our favourite nemesis, Mountbatten, in concert with Nehru, sent into held Kashmir. The troops of Patiala were sent in AFTER that state had already acceded to India i.e because of the accession, they had become troops of the Indian Army.
- Lastly, till now, no one knows for definite when and where the Instrument of Accession was signed, by virtue of which Kashmir, ostensibly, became a part of India. The most important witnesses, nearest to the event all differ with each other on this point. But one thing is certain. No one except the very highest in the Indian government ever saw this document. The first international scholars/journalists who saw it, did so 17 years after its purported signing, which is quite unlike the will that Benazir left to Zardari, who saw it before it was written!