The Indo Pakistani War of 1947, known as the First Kashmir War which was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four Indo Pakistan wars fought between the two newly independent nations. Pakistan precipitated the war a few weeks after independence by launching tribal lashkar from Waziristan, in an effort to secure Kashmir, the future of which hung in the balance. The inconclusive result of the war still affects the geopolitics of both countries. This war started after armed tribesmen from Pakistans northwest frontier province invaded Kashmir in October 1947. Besieged both by a revolt in his state and by the invasion. The Maharaja requested armed assistance from the government of India. In return he acceded to India, handing over powers of defence, communication and foreign affairs. Both India and Pakistan agreed that the accession would be confirmed by a referendum once hostilities had ceased. However, Historians continue to debate the precise timing when the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir signed the instrument of accession and the India army. Moved into the state, arguing that the Maharaja acceded to India under duress. In May 1948, the regular Pakistani army was called upon to protect Pakistans borders. Fighting continued throughout the year between Pakistani irregular troops and the Indian army. The war ended on 1 January 1949 when a ceasefire was arranged by the United Nations, which recommended that both India and Pakistan should adhere to their commitment to hold a referendum in the state. A ceasefire line was established where the two sides stopped fighting and a UN peacekeeping force established. The referendum, however, has never been held. In 1954 Jammu and Kashmirs accession to India was ratified by the states constituent assembly. In 1957, it approved its. Own constitution, modelled along the Indian constitution. Since that time India has regarded that part of the state which it controls as an integral part of the Indian union. To the west of the ceasefire line, Pakistan controls roughly one third of the state. A small region, which the Pakistanis call Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Indians call Pakistani occupied Kashmir, is semi autonomous. The larger area, which includes the former kingdoms of Hunza and Bagar, called the northern areas, is directly administered by Pakistan. In 1962, following the 1962 Sino Indian war, India and Pakistan held talks under the auspices of Britain and the US in an attempt to resolve their differences over Kashmir, but without success. So far territorial disputes over. The Kashmir region sparked two of the three major Indo Pakistani wars in 1947 and 1965, and a limited war in 1999.