The formal integration of Jammu and Kashmir occurred through the signing of the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, under the Indian Independence Act
Maharaja Hari Singh's urgent need for Indian military aid against Pakistani tribal invaders committing genocide prompted the accession
Massacres and rapes during invasion prompted Singh's decision as elements of the Pakistani army were supporting tribal militias
Hari Singh considered preference of people, notably the Muslim-majority, influenced by the invasion's impact on their sentiments
The secular and democratic state of India appealed to Singh, diverging from Pakistan's governance model and aligning with the rights of diverse communities
The promise of economic and administrative aid from India motivated the accession, addressing Jammu and Kashmir's challenges and instability
J&K's accession was a result of a complex interplay of tribal invasion, population preferences, and the appeal of India's secular democracy