Asia-Pacific

Kashmir Affairs

East Asia

India’s 1947 annexation of Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Kashmir prioritized strategic interests over self-determination. Despite promises of plebiscites, India’s power allowed it to disregard democratic ideals, particularly in Muslim-majority Kashmir, where accession to Pakistan was favored. This selective application of principles reveals contradictions in India’s policies and highlights the lasting impact of power imbalances on the region’s fate.