BATTLE FOR KASHMIR PB

Kashmir refers to the Kashmir province of the erstwhile Princely State of Jammu & Kashmir. The State had two more provinces—Jammu and Ladakh (now a separate UT). Even though, in purely technical terms, the Valley of Kashmir constituted less than 10% of the geographical mass of the State, it held the key to the State since at the time of the invasion, the Royalty of the State was still in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State. Pakistan was planning to capture the Maharaja alive and make him sign on the Instrument of Accession., thus, merging the State into Pakistan. The plan, devised by the British, was sound but then came in the unpredictable human factor, and rest is history. KASHMIR was on edge when a combined force of 6,000 Kabailis and the Pakistan army personnel was welcomed by the soldiers of J&K State forces on 22 October 1947. Such treachery in Muzaffarabad then created a situation wherein Srinagar and the Royalty of the State were left vulnerable as only a few hours separated the invaders from the defenceless summer capital of the princely State. The British plan to annex Kashmir for Pakistan seemed to be well on its track till a few brave men decided to take on the evil designs of the colonial power. What followed then was a saga of grit, determination and unmatched sacrifices; tables were turned, and Kashmir was saved. This is the story of those gallant men from the State forces and the Indian armed forces who gave their all to save Kashmir for India