At the time of the partition of British India, how was the military divided between India and Pakistan?

At the time of the partition of British India, how was the military divided between India and Pakistan? The partition of British India in 1947 led to the creation of two independent dominions: India and Pakistan. This event had significant implications for the military resources and personnel, and the division was complicated and contentious. Here’s an overview of how the military was divided:

Overall Division

The British Indian Army was a unified force before partition, consisting of approximately 400,000 personnel.
The decision to divide the military was based on the proportion of Hindu and Muslim soldiers, with around 70% being Hindus and 30% Muslims.

Proportional Allocation

The initial proposal was to allocate 33% of the army’s resources to Pakistan. This was later adjusted to approximately 17% of the total military assets, including personnel, equipment, and munitions.
The division of assets was based on the population distribution, which was about 17% for Pakistan and 83% for India.

Military Equipment and Resources

The military equipment was also divided along similar lines. However, the actual transfer of military equipment was fraught with issues:
Weapons and Ammunition: India retained most of the heavy weapons, while Pakistan received lighter arms.
Logistics and Infrastructure: Key military installations were in India, leading to logistical challenges for the newly formed Pakistan.

Troop Movements and Reactions

Many Muslim soldiers in the Indian Army opted to join the Pakistan Army, while many Hindu soldiers chose to remain with India.
The partition saw significant unrest and communal violence, which affected troop loyalty and deployment.

Formation of the Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army was officially formed in August 1947, led initially by officers who had served in the British Indian Army.
The new army faced significant challenges in terms of organization, training, and operational capability in its early days.

Ongoing Tensions

The division of military resources and personnel led to tensions between India and Pakistan, contributing to ongoing conflicts, including the First Indo-Pakistani War in 1947-48 over Kashmir.

In summary, the partition resulted in a complex and often contentious division of military resources that laid the groundwork for future military and political conflicts between India and Pakistan.