As a professional, I would like to write an informative article on the topic “When Did J&K Govt Propose Standstill Agreement with India and Pakistan?”

In the aftermath of India`s independence, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was in a critical position. The state had not yet decided whether to accede to either India or Pakistan. With the Partition creating two separate countries, the region of Jammu and Kashmir became a hotly contested territory.

In July 1947, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, was presented with two options – either accede to India or Pakistan. The Maharaja, however, was indecisive, and as a result, he proposed a “standstill agreement” with both India and Pakistan, which allowed for the continuation of existing agreements, laws and treaties.

According to history, Jammu and Kashmir signed the standstill agreement with Pakistan on August 15, 1947, the same day the country was partitioned. The standstill agreement allowed Pakistan and the state of Jammu and Kashmir to continue with all the pre-existing trade, communication, and transportation links, while the issue of accession was still pending.

However, Jammu and Kashmir did not sign the standstill agreement with India until October 27, 1947. This delay was due to the deteriorating security situation in the state, which had seen an increase in violence and unrest. The Maharaja, in a bid to secure his state from the growing threat of invasion by Pakistan, signed the Instrument of Accession, making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India.

The signing of the Instrument of Accession led to the first Indo-Pak War of 1947-48. Pakistan disputed the accession by India and sent troops into the region, leading to a prolonged conflict between the two countries. The war could not resolve the territorial disputes over Jammu and Kashmir, which led to the formation of the Line of Control and subsequent conflicts in the region over the decades.

In conclusion, the standstill agreement proposed by the Jammu and Kashmir government in 1947 with both India and Pakistan played a crucial role in the region`s history. While the agreement helped maintain peace and continuity of existing arrangements, it could not resolve the issue of accession, which eventually led to the first Indo-Pak war. The region has remained a bone of contention between the two countries ever since.