Indian annexation of Junagadh

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Between November 1947 and February 1948, the princely state of Junagadh was annexed by the Union of India, following the state's accession to Pakistan, internal revolt and a blockade by the neighbouring princely states. Junagadh had been a princely state under the suzerainty of the British Crown, until independence and partition of British India in 1947. It had the choice of joining one of the two newly independent dominions: the Union of India or Pakistan. It was ruled by Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, a Muslim whose ancestors had ruled Junagadh and small principalities for some two hundred years. The Nawab decided that Junagadh should become part of Pakistan, much to the displeasure of many of the people of the state, an overwhelming majority of whom were Hindus, about 80%. On 15 August 1947, the Nawab announced his intention to accede to Pakistan, with which it had no land border and which it could access only by sea. The principality of Babariawad and Sheikh of Mangrol reacted by...

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