Page 1 - ch 16

Indo-Pakistan War 1947-1948 Module - V

Major Wars Post
Independence

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Note
INDO-PAKISTAN WAR

(1947-1948)

India and Pakistan gained independence amidst population displacement and violence.
Kashmir became the major bone of contention during the Partition. War with Pakistan
in August1947 led to the signing of instrument of accession between Maharaja Hari
Singh and Government of India on 26th October 1947. This further caused tensions in
Pakistan and it sent its troops and Mujahideens to take over Kashmir. War of 1947
was the first of the many wars between India and Pakistan. Two other states were
Army under tooks operations to ensure national integration, were Hyderabad where
operation polo was launched . Other one was in Goa, the Portuguese and their
sympathisers were driven out by the combined action of Navy, Air Force and the
Army and the operation was called VIJAY.

Objectives

After studying this lesson, you will be able to:
 identify the reasons behind the problem of Kashmir;

 describe the role played by Indian Air Force during the India-Pakistan war of
1947-48 and

 describe the liberation of Hyderabad and Goa.

16.1 Genesis of the Kashmir Problem

In August 1947 when the Indian subcontinent became independent, rulers of the 565
princely states, whose lands comprised two-fifths of India [Map 16.1] and a population
of 99 million, had to decide which of the two new countries to join, India or Pakistan.
This is how India looked like before 1947.

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MILITARY HISTORY 29