Partition's Effects on Kashmir
The partition of Pakistan and India caused an unexpected outburst of violence in Kashmir, the northern region that fell right between the two countries. The negotiations that took place in dividing India and Pakistan were themselves diplomatic and peaceful; the tensions that arose in Kashmir were mostly caused by the improper handling of the area by all parties involved, including the British government of India, the India National Congress, and the Muslim League of Pakistan. There were many areas of India that did not fall under British rule; these areas were ruled by Indian princes called Maharajas. At the time of partition, the British government gave these princely states the decision to become a part of either India or Pakistan. For the majority of these princely states, their decision was made for them based on their location; however, Kashmir had the misfortune of falling right between India and Pakistan. While the majority of the population of Kashmir was Muslim, which would have caused it to side with Pakistan, the Maharaja himself was Hindu, making him lean more towards siding with India. When Pakistani invaders crossed into Kashmir and attacked, Maharajah Hari Singh turned to the Indian government for aid, and in effect annexed Kashmir to India. He released his Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, declaring that he accede to the Dominion of India.