Read the passage and answer the questions:
Jammu and Kashmir
Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a Princely State. Its ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, did not want to merge either with India or Pakistan but to have an independent status for his state. Pakistani leaders thought that Kashmir region ‘belonged’ to Pakistan, since majority population of State was Muslim. But this is not how people of state themselves saw it—they thought of themselves as Kashmiris above all. This issue of regional aspiration is known as Kashmiriyat. Popular movement in State, led by Sheikh Abdullah of National Conference, wanted to get rid of Maharaja but was against joining Pakistan. National Conference was a secular organization and had a long association with Congress. Sheikh Abdullah was a personal friend of some of leading nationalist leaders, including Nehru.
In October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators from its side to capture Kashmir. This forced Maharaja to ask for Indian military help. India extended military support and drove back infiltrators from Kashmir valley, but only after Maharaja had signed an ‘Instrument of Accession’ with Government of India. However, as Pakistan continued to control a sizeable part of state, issue was taken to United Nations Organisation, which in its resolution dated 21 April 1948, recommended a three-step process to resolve issue. Firstly, Pakistan had to withdraw its nationals who entered Kashmir. Secondly, India needed to progressively reduce its forces so as to maintain law and order. Thirdly, a plebiscite was to be conducted in a free and impartial manner. However, no progress could be achieved under this resolution. In meantime, Sheikh Abdullah took over as Prime Minister of State of J&K in March 1948, while India agreed to grant it provisional autonomy under Article 370. The head of government in State was then called Prime Minister.
Since then, politics of Jammu and Kashmir remained controversial and conflict-ridden both for external and internal reasons. Externally, Pakistan has always claimed that Kashmir valley should be part of Pakistan. As noted above, Pakistan sponsored a tribal invasion of State in 1947, as a consequence of which one part of the State came under Pakistani control. However, it is the Indian territory which is under illegal occupation by Pakistan called as Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK).
In which year did Pakistan send tribal infiltrators to capture Kashmir?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → 1947
In October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators from its side to capture Kashmir.
NCERT (2025-26): “Roots of the Problem … In October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators from its side to capture Kashmir. This forced the Maharaja to ask for Indian military help. India extended the military support and drove back the infiltrators from Kashmir valley, but only after the Maharaja had signed an ‘Instrument of Accession’ with the Government of India. However, as Pakistan continued to control a sizeable part of the state, the issue was taken to the United Nations Organisation, which in its resolution dated 21 April 1948 recommended a three step process to resolve the issue. Firstly, Pakistan had to withdraw its entire nationalities, who entered into Kashmir. Secondly, India needed to progressively reduce its forces so as to maintain law and order. Thirdly, a plebiscite was to be conducted in a free and impartial manner. However, no progress could be achieved under this resolution. In the meanwhile, Sheikh Abdullah took over as the Prime Minister of the State of J&K in March 1948 while India agreed to grant it provisional autonomy under the Article 370. The head of the government in the State was then called Prime Minister.” |