Every year on 24 October, the valleys and hills of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Pakistan administered Kashmir resonate with speeches, flag-raising ceremonies, and a sense of historic gravity. Streets in Muzaffarabad and smaller towns flutter with green flags and banners marking what is officially celebrated as “Kashmir Government Formation Day.” But behind the slogans and ceremonies lies a date that is deeply contested, interpreted, and even ignored across the wider divided land of Jammu & Kashmir.
What truly happened on 24 October 1947? Why does this date matter so much in one part of Kashmir while elsewhere, it is viewed with indifference or skepticism? This independent analysis from The Azadi Times seeks to answer these questions by centering Kashmiri voices, historical facts, and critical reflection, eschewing both Indian and Pakistani state narratives.
The events leading up to 24 October 1947 cannot be understood without recalling the chaos unleashed by Partition. As the British Raj withdrew, India and Pakistan were carved from the subcontinent’s flesh, leaving millions uprooted and hundreds of thousands dead. Kashmir’s princely ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, hesitated, caught between the two emerging states, promising his majority-Muslim population neither clear autonomy nor accession.
As historian Alastair Lamb recounts in Kashmir: A Disputed Legacy 1846-1990, the districts of western Jammu—especially Poonch—had long simmered with discontent. By spring and summer 1947, rural communities in Poonch and Mirpur, frustrated by heavy taxation and the Maharaja’s harsh rule, began to rise up. These local uprisings soon merged with the influx of tribal fighters from Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province, who, encouraged by elements within Pakistan, invaded Kashmir in late October 1947, aiming to “liberate” the land from Dogra rule.
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Maharaja Hari Singh’s Controversial Semi Accession to India
The tribal invasion, marked by both genuine local support and outside involvement, forced the Maharaja’s hand. On 26 October 1947, Hari Singh signed the contoversial semi Instrument of Accession to India, and Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar. Many Kashmiris, especially in the western districts, viewed this as a betrayal a denial of their right to determine their own future.
24 October 1947: The Provisional Government is Born
The Pallandri Declaration
In the shadow of war, a group of Kashmiri politicians, ex-servicemen, and tribal leaders gathered in the remote town of Pallandri. There, on 24 October 1947, they proclaimed the establishment of a provisional government of “Azad (Free) Jammu & Kashmir.” Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, a barrister from Poonch, was elected as its first President.
Quoting from Sardar Ibrahim’s later recollections, “We did not want to be ruled by the Dogra again, nor did we want to be pawns in anyone else’s hands. The people of Jammu & Kashmir had risen for their rights.” (Source: AJK archives)
Who Were the Architects?
Alongside Sardar Ibrahim, key figures included Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, Colonel Sher Ahmed Khan, and a host of tribal and local leaders. Their government-in-exile, initially operating from makeshift offices and with little material support, claimed to represent all Kashmiris opposed to the Maharaja’s rule and the sudden accession to India.
Symbol of Defiance
For many in western Kashmir, 24 October was more than a political maneuver—it was a symbol of defiance. It echoed a desire for self-rule, a rejection of both the Dogra dynasty’s repression and the uncertainty brought by Partition.
Political Analysis: Whose Government Was It?
Popular Uprising or Pakistani Project?
The nature of the 24 October government remains fiercely debated. Pakistani historians often portray it as a local revolution, while Indian accounts dismiss it as a Pakistani plot. The truth, as usual, is more complex.
Dr. Shujaat Ahmad, a historian from Rawalakot, AJK, observes:
“Yes, there was real anger against the Maharaja, but the involvement of Pakistani officials and tribal fighters is undeniable. The people’s revolt and Islamabad’s support became intertwined, making it hard to separate one from the other.”
British and UN records from the period (Lamb, UN Resolutions 1948-49) indicate that the new government was recognized by Pakistan but not by India or the international community. It functioned with significant logistical and military support from Pakistan, but included many local leaders who had risked—and lost—everything for the cause.
A Government in Exile
The provisional government never controlled the entire region it claimed. As the first war between India and Pakistan raged on, lines solidified: the eastern Valley (including Srinagar) came under Indian administration, while the western districts—what is now AJK—came under the control of the government-in-exile, backed by Pakistan.
Kashmiri Voices: How 24 October is Remembered
“A Day to Celebrate Our Struggle”
For many in AJK, 24 October is a source of pride. Students in Muzaffarabad are taught about Sardar Ibrahim’s courage, and public holidays are observed across the region. In interviews conducted by The Azadi Times, various perspectives emerged:
Zara Khalid, Student Activist (Muzaffarabad):
“It’s a day when my grandparents’ generation reclaimed their dignity. But I also wonder—are we truly free today? Or is our future still decided in Islamabad and New Delhi?”
“24 October symbolizes the assertion of Kashmiri agency. Yet, over the years, it has become ritualized, almost hollow. The original spirit was about self-determination—not just changing one ruler for another.”
“My father fought in the revolt. He believed Azad Kashmir would one day unite all Kashmiris. Now we live as refugees, with hope but also frustration.”
In the Indian-Administered Valley: A Date Overlooked
In the Kashmir Valley, the 24 October narrative is largely absent from schoolbooks and public discourse. For many Valley Kashmiris, the day is seen as relevant only to “the other side.” Some consider the government in Muzaffarabad a Pakistani proxy; others see it as a missed opportunity for genuine independence.
Critical Reflection: The Many Meanings of 24 October
Between Two States: India’s Denial, Pakistan’s Ambivalence
India has never recognized the AJK government, considering it part of what it calls “Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.” In Indian narratives, 24 October is at best a footnote, at worst dismissed as illegitimate. Pakistan, meanwhile, supports AJK as a “self-governing” territory, yet retains ultimate control over defense, foreign affairs, and constitutional matters.
A 2019 Human Rights Watch report notes:
“While the AJK government enjoys a degree of autonomy, ultimate authority rests with Pakistan’s federal government. Political dissent is tolerated within limits, but criticism of accession to Pakistan or calls for full independence are often suppressed.”
This ambiguous status leaves AJK in a constitutional limbo—neither truly independent nor fully integrated.
The Hopes and Disillusionment of Ordinary Kashmiris
Did the government established on 24 October fulfill its promise to Kashmiris? For many, the answer is bittersweet. While the creation of AJK ended Dogra rule in the west, it did not deliver sovereignty for the whole of Jammu & Kashmir. Many feel that the right to self-determination—enshrined in UN Resolutions 47 (1948) and 91 (1949)—remains unfulfilled.
“We respect our elders who fought for freedom, but we are still waiting for the real azadi. The world must listen to Kashmiri voices, not just Delhi or Islamabad.”
Generational Divide and the Role of Youth
In today’s AJK, 24 October is marked by official events and patriotic songs, but among young people, there is a growing desire for a more meaningful commemoration—one that honestly addresses the region’s incomplete journey to self-determination.
Organizations like the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Kashmir National Party (KNP), and independent civil society groups urge that 24 October be a day of reflection as well as celebration. They call for unity across the Line of Control (LoC), historical clarity, and an independent voice for Kashmiris.
“The real spirit of 24 October is about standing up for our rights, not just repeating old slogans. We need to reclaim the day as Kashmiris, not as proxies.”
Indian, Pakistani, and international media frame 24 October through their own lenses. In India, the day is ignored or cast as illegitimate. In Pakistan, it is celebrated but rarely analyzed critically. International coverage is sparse, often missing the nuances of Kashmiri perspectives.
The Azadi Times and other independent Kashmiri platforms strive to fill this gap, prioritizing stories and analyses that center the lived experience and aspirations of the people themselves.
- Alastair Lamb, “Kashmir: A Disputed Legacy 1846-1990”: Documents the Poonch revolt, establishment of the AJK government, and the international context.
- UN Resolutions 47 (1948) and 91 (1949): Affirm the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu & Kashmir, call for a plebiscite after restoration of peace.
- AJK Government Archives: Detail the formation, early challenges, and subsequent evolution of the provisional government.
- Human Rights Watch / Amnesty Reports: Illustrate the limits of autonomy and challenges to political freedoms in AJK.
Looking Forward: The Meaning of 24 October for Today’s Kashmir
Beyond Ritual: Toward Unity and Self-Determination
For Kashmiris, 24 October should be more than a day of ritual or state-sponsored celebration. It must be reclaimed as a moment to reflect on the region’s long and unfinished journey toward genuine self-determination, unity, and dignity.
The voices and sacrifices of those who struggled in 1947 deserve remembrance—not as tools for state narratives, but as inspiration for a future built on Kashmiri agency and solidarity.
A Call for Clarity and Independent Voice
As Kashmir’s story continues to unfold amid uncertainty and contestation, it is vital that Kashmiris themselves define the meaning of 24 October. Historical clarity, unity across divides, and a steadfast commitment to self-determination can transform this date from a symbol of division into one of hope.
Let 24 October stand not just as the anniversary of a government’s proclamation, but as an annual reminder of the resilience, complexity, and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
- Lamb, Alastair. Kashmir: A Disputed Legacy 1846-1990. Oxford University Press, 1991.
- United Nations Security Council Resolutions 47 (1948) & 91 (1951): UN Digital Library
- Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir: Official Portal
- Human Rights Watch, “With Friends Like These…” (2006): hrw.org
- Amnesty International, “Denied: Failures in Accountability in Indian-Administered Kashmir” (2015)
- Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, “Memoirs” (AJK Archives)
