On this date, British rule ended in the Indian subcontinent and the new dominions of Pakistan and India were created. The British withdrawal also ended the treaty system (“paramountcy”) that had linked hundreds of princely states to the Crown. Each ruler now had to decide how to secure their state—typically by acceding to Pakistan or India, or trying (often briefly) to remain independent.
The Nawab of Bahawalpur signed accession to Pakistan, making it one of the earliest major princely states to join the new dominion. This helped Pakistan consolidate territory in southern Punjab during the unstable first months after Partition. Bahawalpur later retained internal autonomy until mid-1950s integration reforms.
Khairpur’s regent executed the Instrument of Accession on behalf of its minor ruler, bringing the Sindh-based state into Pakistan. The accession strengthened Pakistan’s control along the Indus in northern Sindh. Khairpur also became a key example of how Pakistan used legal instruments to absorb princely sovereignty into the new state framework.
After a short period of post-Partition independence, the Wali (ruler) of Swat signed accession to Pakistan. Swat’s accession was part of Pakistan’s broader effort to stabilize the North-West Frontier region through negotiated agreements with frontier rulers. The state continued with significant internal autonomy for years after accession.
Chitral’s ruler executed the Instrument of Accession to Pakistan, formalizing a decision he had indicated earlier. Because Chitral was remote and bordered Afghanistan, its accession reduced uncertainty about the northern frontier. Pakistan accepted the accession and maintained Chitral as a princely state with internal authority under its Mehtar.
Dir joined Pakistan by accession in early 1948. Like other frontier states, Dir’s relationship with Pakistan combined external alignment (defense and foreign affairs) with continued internal rule by its Nawab. This approach aimed to bring strategic border regions under Pakistan’s authority without immediate administrative disruption.
The Jam of Las Bela acceded to Pakistan, and the accession was accepted shortly afterward. In Balochistan, Pakistan faced complicated relationships among Kalat and its associated territories, and Las Bela sought recognition as separate from Kalat. The accession helped Pakistan extend formal authority along parts of the coast and nearby inland areas.
Kharan acceded to Pakistan and was accepted as a separate accession rather than through Kalat. This reflected Pakistan’s willingness to treat some territories linked to Kalat as distinct political units. The decision shaped later debates about authority and autonomy in Balochistan’s princely regions.
Makran acceded to Pakistan, adding another coastal princely territory to the new dominion. Like Kharan and Las Bela, Makran’s accession was treated separately from Kalat, reflecting disputes over Kalat’s authority over associated areas. This completed a major step in Pakistan’s consolidation of much of present-day Balochistan’s princely territories before Kalat’s own accession.
After months of negotiations following Partition, the Khanate of Kalat acceded to Pakistan. The accession was politically sensitive and later became central to competing narratives about autonomy and coercion in Balochistan. With Kalat’s accession, Pakistan secured formal agreement from the largest remaining princely authority in the region.
Kalat, Kharan, Las Bela, and Makran were brought into a federation-like arrangement often called the Baluchistan States Union. This was a transitional structure meant to coordinate governance while preserving some princely autonomy under Pakistan. It also created a clearer administrative bridge between accession agreements and fuller provincial integration.
Pakistan’s central government moved toward merging the western provinces and many princely territories into a single administrative unit. The stated goal was to simplify governance and create parity with East Pakistan in the federation. This shift signaled that surviving princely autonomy in the west was likely to be reduced or ended.
The One Unit scheme was enacted, creating the province of West Pakistan and dissolving several princely-state arrangements. Bahawalpur, Khairpur, Kalat, Las Bela, Kharan, and Makran were incorporated into the new provincial structure, ending their remaining internal sovereignty. By this point, Pakistan’s integration of most princely states in the 1947–1955 period had shifted from negotiated accession to centralized administration.
Integration of princely states into Pakistan (1947–1955)