Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a misleading claim regarding Jammu and Kashmir. The X platform labeled it as "Misleading news" and proved with historical documents that Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession for integration with India in 1947.
New Delhi: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shared a misleading post concerning the events of October 27, 1947. He claimed Jammu and Kashmir to be a part of Pakistan, accused India of invasion, and asserted that human rights violations were occurring there. He shared this post on his official X handle.
X Conducts Fact-Check
Social media platform X promptly reacted to Shehbaz Sharif's claim and labeled it as "Misleading news." X's Community Notes explained that Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the Instrument of Accession to integrate Jammu and Kashmir into India on October 26, 1947. Only after this did India send its army to Srinagar on October 27 to secure the region.
Social Media Reaction
People on X responded bly to Shehbaz's post. Many users refuted the Prime Minister's claim by presenting historical documents. X also shared links to documents from the archives of All India Radio, India's government radio service, which clearly stated that Maharaja Hari Singh sought military assistance only after the accession to India.
Trend of Misleading News in Pakistan
This tendency to spread fake news has reached the top leadership in Pakistan. Every year on October 27, Pakistan laments Kashmir and exaggerates its claims on a global scale. In 1947, the Indian army reached Srinagar and liberated the region from infiltrators. Pakistan has consistently propagandized against India regarding this date.
Historical Events of 1947
At the time of India's partition in 1947, Jammu and Kashmir was an independent princely state. Maharaja Hari Singh had the option to accede to India, Pakistan, or remain independent. On October 22, 1947, Pakistan-backed tribal militias launched an attack towards Srinagar, passing through Muzaffarabad and Domel. These infiltrators occupied Uri and Baramulla by October 26. The situation spiraled out of control, and Maharaja Hari Singh sought assistance from India.
Instrument of Accession and Deployment of Troops
India made it clear that troops would only be sent if Jammu and Kashmir legally acceded to India. Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947. The very next day, October 27, India's first contingent of troops, the 1st Sikh Regiment, landed at Srinagar airport. Under the leadership of Brigadier J.C. Katoch, the soldiers immediately advanced towards Baramulla and repelled the infiltrators. This marked India's first airborne military operation.
Countering Pakistan's Propaganda Policy
X's fact-checking policy, which came into effect in May 2025, is controlling such false claims. Now, notes are affixed to many misleading claims made by Pakistani leaders. Besides Maharaja Hari Singh's Instrument of Accession, links to several historical documents have been shared, proving that India only sent troops to Jammu and Kashmir legally.
