India and Pakistan, 1947-64
Modern History › The Nehru Era, 1947-64 · Topic 31.6
Relations between India and Pakistan from 1947 to 1964 centred on Kashmir, which acceded to India on 26 October 1947 and was taken to the UN Security Council in January 1948, producing a ceasefire on 1 January 1949, and on the Indus waters, settled by the World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty signed at Karachi on 19 September 1960. Apart from the 1947-48 fighting in Kashmir, no full-scale war followed until 1965.
7 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · The Nehru Era, 1947-64
At a Glance
- Kashmir accession 26 October 1947
- UN complaint January 1948; ceasefire 1 January 1949
- Interim canal agreement 17 April 1959
- Indus Waters Treaty Karachi, 19 September 1960
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: The Nehru Era, 1947-64
Where Does It Fit?
This is the sixth topic of the category on the Nehru era. The previous topic covered social developments and education. This topic covers relations with Pakistan from 1947 to 1964. The next topic covers relations with China to 1962. Previous topic: Social Developments and Education Under Nehru.
Why Were the Two Countries in Competition?
One view holds that the artificiality of partition pushed Pakistan to establish an identity separate from India, of which it had been a part by geography, history, tradition and culture until 1947, and that Pakistan has aimed at parity with India in all fields and competed with India in international forums. This is one reading of Pakistan’s motives. The partition itself is in Mountbatten Plan of 3 June 1947 and Interim Government…">Why Congress Accepted Partition, and the shared problems of division are in Division of Resources: Civil Government, Finances and Defence.
How Did the Kashmir Issue Develop?
Pakistan refused to accept Kashmir’s accession to India on 26 October 1947. In reply to the Pakistan-sponsored tribal attack, India, supported by the local people under Sheikh Abdullah, took swift military action. Before the task of recovering the territory could be completed, Nehru lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council in January 1948, which resulted in a ceasefire on 1 January 1949. India also agreed to hold a plebiscite under international supervision, but because of changed circumstances it finally withdrew the offer in 1955. Diplomatic battles for Kashmir were fought in the United Nations and other forums, and it is often said that no actual war took place between the two countries up to 1964. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The statement leaves out the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which that account treats as the tribal raid and the Indian response, so the first full-scale war after it was that of 1965. The accession is in Integration of the Indian States, 1947-49.
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 26 October 1947 | Accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India |
| January 1948 | India’s complaint to the UN Security Council |
| 1 January 1949 | Ceasefire |
| 1955 | India withdrew its offer of a plebiscite |
A note on the dates: some accounts carry the date 1947 for the plebiscite offer, though the UN complaint is dated January 1948, so the offer is described here as made in the course of the Security Council proceedings. The ceasefire left a part of the state under Pakistan’s occupation, as described in Integration of the Indian States, 1947-49.
What Was the Indus Waters Dispute?
The sharing of the Indus waters had been a cause of discord since partition. Partition gave India 5 million of the 28 million acres of land irrigated by the Indus system. Most of the waters of the western part of the system flowed to the Arabian Sea, while some canals in Pakistan depended on the eastern rivers that flow through East Punjab in India, and the headworks of some vital canals in Pakistan were in Indian territory. Successive Pakistan governments blamed India for any calamity from natural factors such as drought and flood. Under the guidance of the World Bank an interim agreement on canal waters was signed on 17 April 1959, and a comprehensive agreement was signed at Karachi on 19 September 1960, now known as the Indus Waters Treaty. It has caused discord between the nations on several occasions since.
The border drawn in the Punjab, which produced the headworks problem, is in Radcliffe Boundary Award and the Communal Riots. As an analytical point, the Indus treaty is an example of a dispute where a third party with funds, the World Bank, helped the two sides to a technical agreement while the political dispute over Kashmir remained open. The frontier with China, where the Nehru government faced a war, is in Panchsheel agreement 1954 Asylum Dalai Lama…">India and China, 1947-62, and the following decade of conflict with Pakistan begins in The Lal Bahadur Shastri Years and the Indo-Pak War of 1965.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Kashmir chronology Dates of accession, UN complaint and ceasefire are standard Prelims facts
- Indus Waters Treaty A frequent question and a lasting arrangement
- No war until 1964 A baseline for later conflicts
What Came Next?
The next topic covers India’s relations with China from recognition to the war of 1962. Next topic: India and China, 1947-62.
Key People and Terms
- Sheikh Abdullah Popular leader who backed accession
- UN Security Council Forum for India’s complaint in January 1948
- Ceasefire Effective 1 January 1949
- Plebiscite Offered under international supervision
- Indus Waters Treaty Signed at Karachi, 19 September 1960
- World Bank Mediated the canal waters agreements
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Accession: 26 October 1947; UN complaint January 1948.
- Ceasefire: 1 January 1949.
- Plebiscite offer withdrawn 1955.
- Interim agreement 17 April 1959; treaty 19 September 1960.
- India got 5 of 28 million irrigated acres.
Do Not Confuse With
- Interim agreement and treaty 1959 versus 1960
- Accession and ceasefire 1947 versus 1949
- Eastern rivers and western rivers Flowing through East Punjab versus flowing to the Arabian Sea
Memory Hook
Kashmir to the UN, a ceasefire, and water by treaty.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the issues between the two countries. These points add depth.
- Kashmir Accession, UN and ceasefire
- Water Indus system and the treaty
- Pattern Diplomatic, not military, contests
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the main issues in India-Pakistan relations from 1947 to 1964.”
How to Answer
- Background Partition rivalry.
- Kashmir UN and ceasefire.
- Water Treaty of 1960.
- Conclude No war to 1964.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kashmir accede to India?
Kashmir's accession to India took place on 26 October 1947, after the Pakistan-sponsored tribal attack, and Pakistan refused to accept it, while India acted with the support of the local population under Sheikh Abdullah and sent troops to the state.
Why did India take the Kashmir issue to the UN?
Before the recovery of the territory could be completed, Nehru lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council in January 1948, which led to a ceasefire on 1 January 1949, and India offered a plebiscite that it withdrew in 1955.
What was the Indus waters dispute?
Partition gave India only 5 million of the 28 million acres irrigated by the Indus, canals of Pakistan depended on rivers flowing through East Punjab, and headworks lay in Indian territory, so Pakistan blamed India for droughts and floods.
When was the Indus Waters Treaty signed?
With the World Bank's guidance an interim agreement was signed on 17 April 1959, and a comprehensive agreement was signed at Karachi on 19 September 1960, which is known as the Indus Waters Treaty and has caused discord at times since.
Was there a war between India and Pakistan before 1964?
Apart from the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1947-48, which followed the tribal raid, no full-scale war took place up to 1964, although diplomatic battles over Kashmir were fought in the United Nations and other international forums; the next war came in 1965.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 India complained to the UN Security Council on Kashmir in January 1948.
A ceasefire followed on 1 January 1949.
2 The Indus Waters Treaty was signed at Karachi on 19 September 1960.
The World Bank guided the talks.
3 India and Pakistan fought a war over Kashmir in 1962.
The 1947-48 fighting in Kashmir apart, there was no full-scale war until 1965.
4 Kashmir acceded to India on 26 October 1947.
Sheikh Abdullah endorsed it.
5 India gave up the offer of a plebiscite in 1955.
Changed circumstances were cited.
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