All Jammu and Kashmir Plebiscite Front

The All Jammu and Kashmir Plebiscite Front,^[1] or Plebiscite Front, was a political party in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir that called for a "popular plebiscite" to decide if the state should remain part of India, join Pakistan or become independent.^[2] The patron of the party was Sheikh Abdullah, the former Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and chief of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, even though he never formally joined it.^[2] The founder of the party was Mirza Afzal Beg.

Plebiscite Movement The Plebiscite Movement in Jammu and Kashmir, often referred to as the "Kashmir Plebiscite Movement," is a political movement and a historical context related to the ongoing dispute over the status of the region of J&K. It is closely tied to the unresolved issue of self-determination for the people of the region. The origin of the Plebiscite Movement in J&K can be traced back to the circumstances surrounding the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. At the time of partition, the princely state of J&K, like other princely states in British India, had the option to accede to either India or Pakistan. The region's leader, Maharaja Hari Singh, chose to accede to India, leading to tensions and a series of wars between India and Pakistan over the region. In 1948, the United Nations intervened, and a ceasefire agreement was reached, leading to the establishment of the Line of Control (LoC) that divided the region between India and Pakistan. The United Nations Security Council passed several resolutions calling for a plebiscite to be held in J&K to allow the people of the region to decide their own political future. These resolutions envisioned a vote in which the people of J&K could choose to accede to either India or Pakistan or opt for independence. The Plebiscite Movement in J&K is primarily associated with the idea that the people of the region should have the opportunity to express their will through a plebiscite as outlined in the UN resolutions. Proponents of the movement argue that the plebiscite is necessary to determine the region's political status, as they believe that the accession of J&K to India was not legitimate and that the people of the region should have the right to self-determination. However, the plebiscite has not been held to date, and the situation in J&K remains complex and contentious. The region is divided between the Union Territory of J&K (merged with India) and Azad J&K and Gilgit-Baltistan (Illegally occupied by Pakistan). The issue of J&K continues to be a major point of contention between India and Pakistan, and various parties within J&K have different views on the way forward. Some advocate for implementing the UN resolutions and holding a plebiscite, while others support varying degrees of autonomy or independence.