The First India–Pakistan War (1947–1948): Origins of the Kashmir Dispute, Course of the War, and Political Consequences

Abstract

Abstract: Following independence from British rule and the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, political tensions began to emerge between India and Pakistan. The question of control over Jammu and Kashmir became the central issue in the first war (1947–1948) between the two nations. This study analyzes the limited nature of the conflict, examining it through the lenses of its political objectives, geographical scope, and military resources. According to the study, this conflict served as an early example of modern warfare, in which Pakistan adopted a strategy of organizing and fostering an armed insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir to achieve its political goals. Due to a lack of clear military doctrine and prior experience, this strategy met with only limited success. Nevertheless, the experience encouraged Pakistan to rely on insurgent groups and irregular armed forces—operating behind the adversary's front lines—in subsequent conflicts.