The Kashmir issue arose just after the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. The Maharaja of Kashmir Hari Singh wanted to gain time to decide either to join India or Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Kashmiris began to press the maharaja to accede to Pakistan. They held mass protests against his indecisiveness. His soldiers opened fire on protesters and several hundred Kashmiris were killed. A local barrister named Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim set up the Azad Kashmir government and waged guerrilla war against the maharaja. Sensing his defeat, the maharaja invited India to send its troops to Kashmir. On October 26,1947, the maharaja acceded to India. India accused Pakistan of supporting Kashmiris. Pakistan maintained that the accession of Kashmir had been brought out by force. The Kashmir issue remains unresolved till today. Both Pakistan and India have fought three wars over this issue.