Listen to the article
Pakistan Prime Minister’s Kashmir Claims Refuted by Historical Records
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif found himself corrected on social media platform X after making false historical claims about Kashmir. Community notes flagged Sharif’s post commemorating October 27 as a “Black Day,” challenging his assertion that India had “annexed” Kashmir in 1947.
The fact-check clarified that Kashmir legally acceded to India on October 26, 1947, when Maharaja Hari Singh, the region’s ruler, signed the Instrument of Accession with India. This formal agreement came as tribal invaders from Pakistan were committing atrocities against non-Muslim populations in the state.
“The following day, the Indian troops entered Srinagar to repel the tribal invaders — not to occupy it. Hence the claim of ‘Indian annexation’ is historically and legally false,” the community note explained.
Karan Singh, the Maharaja’s son and heir apparent at the time, has described the period as one of “panic and uncertainty,” stating: “Death and destruction were fast approaching Srinagar, our smug world had collapsed around us.”
The sequence of events remains crucial to understanding the Kashmir conflict’s origins. India’s military intervention came only after receiving a lawful request for assistance from Kashmir’s ruler and after the formal accession document was signed. This chronology—accession first, troop deployment second—forms the legal foundation of India’s position on Kashmir.
Former Indian diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar commented on Pakistan’s stance, saying the country “needs to understand history” and “is still living in the past.”
Despite historical documentation, Pakistan’s foreign ministry continues to characterize October 27 as the day of “occupation.” However, independent accounts confirm that Pakistan had instigated the conflict by supporting tribal incursions into Kashmir. India’s intervention was defensive, aimed at protecting civilians and the territorial integrity of a state that had legally joined the Indian Union.
The Indian Army commemorates October 27 as Infantry Day, honoring soldiers who defended Srinagar and secured the newly-acceded territory. The operation established the Indian Army’s presence in the Kashmir Valley—a presence based on legitimate authority rather than conquest.
Pakistan’s continued narrative on Kashmir stands in stark contrast to recent events in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where authorities have reportedly cracked down on civilian protests. International media has documented civilian casualties, injuries, and communications disruptions during demonstrations over infrastructure failures and governance issues.
For India, this discrepancy reinforces its position that the military entered Jammu and Kashmir to defend it from external aggression—a role it continues to fulfill as the region’s constitutional protector.
Relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated further after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 on August 5, 2019, reorganizing the state into two Union Territories. India has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “was, is and shall forever” remain integral parts of India.
As Pakistan marks October 27 as a “Black Day,” historical records present a different narrative—one in which Indian forces responded to protect a state that had legally chosen to join India. Seventy-eight years later, this fundamental distinction continues to shape the discourse surrounding one of South Asia’s most enduring geopolitical disputes.
Verify This Yourself
Use these professional tools to fact-check and investigate claims independently
Reverse Image Search
Check if this image has been used elsewhere or in different contexts
Ask Our AI About This Claim
Get instant answers with web-powered AI analysis
Related Fact-Checks
See what other fact-checkers have said about similar claims
Want More Verification Tools?
Access our full suite of professional disinformation monitoring and investigation tools
10 Comments
The details around Kashmir’s accession to India in 1947 are clearly more complicated than the Pakistani PM’s statement suggests. This fact-check helps provide crucial historical context that’s often overlooked.
Absolutely, understanding the full timeline of events is key to having a balanced and informed discussion about the origins of the Kashmir conflict.
The clarification around the sequence of events in 1947 is a helpful reminder that history is often more nuanced than simplified political rhetoric. Kudos to the fact-checkers for digging into the details.
Agreed. Cutting through partisan narratives to uncover the factual basis is essential for constructive dialogue on long-standing conflicts like this one.
While the Kashmir issue remains a highly contentious one, it’s important that public figures make statements rooted in historical facts rather than political narratives. This fact-check helps set the record straight.
This post highlights the importance of verifying facts, especially around sensitive topics with competing historical narratives. Kudos to the fact-checkers for providing a nuanced corrective to the PM’s claims.
The historical context around Kashmir’s accession to India in 1947 is complex and nuanced. This fact-check provides a helpful clarification on the sequence of events, moving beyond simplistic narratives.
It’s good to see the fact-checking community pushing back against inaccurate claims, even from high-profile political figures. Understanding the full historical picture is crucial for informed discussion on this longstanding conflict.
Agreed. Maintaining an objective, evidence-based perspective is key to making progress on complex geopolitical issues like this.
This fact-check provides a valuable lesson in the importance of interrogating claims, even from high-level officials. Maintaining an impartial, evidence-based approach is crucial for meaningful discourse on complex geopolitical disputes.