Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
Capital  • Coordinates	Muzaffarabad  • 34.22° N 73.28° E
Population (2007)  • Density	4,067,856 (estimate)  • 306/km²
Area	13,297 km²
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Main language(s)	Urdu (official) Hindko Mirpuri Pahari Gojri Pashto
Status	self-governing state under Pakistani control
• Districts	•  8
• Towns	•  none
• Union Councils	•  182
Established  • Governor/Commissioner  • Chief Minister  • Legislature (seats)	1948  • President Raja Zulqarnain Khan  • Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan  • Legislative Assembly (49)
Website	Government of Azad Kashmir

The Free State of Jammu and Kashmir (Urdu: اسلامی جمھوریۃ آزاد کشمیر), usually shortened to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) or, simply, Azad Kashmir (literally, "free Kashmir"), is the southernmost political entity of the Pakistani-controlled part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised It borders the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir to the east, the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) to the north, and the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan to the west and the Punjab Province Pakistan to its south and south west. ( Dogri: जम्मू और कश्मीर Urdu: جموں و کشمیر is the northernmost state of India. The Northern Areas ( Urdu:,) is officially referred to by the government of Pakistan as the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP ( Urdu: śimāl maġribī sarhadī sūba) is the smallest of the four main provinces of Pakistan. It covers an area of 13,297 km² (5,134 mi²), with its capital at Muzaffarabad, and has an estimated population of about four million. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Muzaffarabad is the capital of the Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir. The state's financial matters, i. e. , budget and tax affairs, are dealt with by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, instead of by Pakistan's Central Board of Revenue. The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council is a supreme body consisting of 11 members, six from the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and five from the government of Pakistan. Its chairman/chief executive is the president of Pakistan. Other members of the council are Azad Kashmir's own president and prime minister and a few other AJK ministers.

History

Map of the Kashmir region

After the partition of British India in 1947 the Princely states were given the option of merging with India or Pakistan. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Hari Singh, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir against the wishes of people of Kashmir wished to remain independent. The word Mahārāja (also spelled maharajah) is Sanskrit for "great king" or " High king " (a Karmadharaya from mahānt To appease the masses he signed a stand alone agreement which was in direct violation of the notion that the princely states would go either with Pakistan or India. ^[1] As the Maharajah hesitated calls for a union with Pakistan grew particularly within Azad Kashmir. This led to demonstrations and days of civil unrest that the Maharajah tried to put down which triggered a war. But Nehru's government knew, although it never conceded it in public, that there had been a fairly spontaneous revolt in the Jhelum valley and other parts of what is now Azad Kashmir, against the Maharajah's decision to accede to India. This was also well before the arrival of any “raiders” from the NWFP region. ^[2]

The people of Azad Kashmir were known for their immense martial spirit and have resisted invaders through the ages such as the Sikhs, British and Dogra’s. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Leaders such as Raja Sultan Khan of Bhimber are etched into the memoires of the Azad Kashmir people as are the famous rebellions of the Gakkhars of Mirpur and the Mangral Rajputs in Kotli. Bhimber is the chief town of Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir. The town is located at 32°58'60N 74°4'0E and is situated on the border with Azad Kashmir and Pakistan Kotli ( Urdu: کوٹلی) is the chief town of Kotli District, in the Pakistani controlled Azad Kashmir. ^[3] The British used the Mirpur as a recruiting ground for the British Indian army. ^[4]

Azad Kashmir was awash with battle hardened troops who had returned to their families from serving in the British army during the Second World War. In a series of pitched battles the Dogra forces were practically wiped out due to the superior quality of the Azad Kashmir forces and entire districts of Azad Kashmir such as Mirpur, Kotli and Muzaffarabad were freed from Dogra rule. Muzaffarabad is the capital of the Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir. Upon hearing news of the fighting in Azad Kashmir and the plan to take the fight to Srinagar tribal Pathan fighters from what is now known as FATA and NWFP came to help their brethren. Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP ( Urdu: śimāl maġribī sarhadī sūba) is the smallest of the four main provinces of Pakistan. Having no need to head into Azad Kashmir the tribal armies entered into the valley along with a few Pakistani officers to oversee the operations. Upon arrival in the valley they were met by Indian troops already there. Contrary to the popular belief that once the raiders had arrived then Indian troops were flown after the invasion. Alaistar Lamb, author of a series of books on Kashmir, has discovered evidence based on declassified military papers that India had Patalia gunners at the Sringar airport by October 17 1947, and has scoffed at the Indian apologists who propose that India’s invasion of Kashmir was the triumph of improvisation. Instead, he states that India had troops mobilized for an invasion of Kashmir by October 25th This would mean that India’s army was in Kashmir before the decision of the Mahrajah. With India’s army already in Kashmir it is obvious why the Maharajah would hand his country over to India. This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir Because of the injustice displayed by India, the Treaty of Accession, if it was even signed, is nullified and void. The Indian troops managed to push the irregular forces back but were then engaged by the Pakistani army. Fighting continued and the front managed to stabilise at points near what is known today as the line of control. However Pakistani forces held a great deal of the higher ground and key points and the Indian armed forces were dangerously spread thin and running short of supplies. The battle of Beri Pattan illustrates just how precarious the position of the Indian armed forces was along with a hostile population. ^[5]

As this point Nehru the prime minister of India went to the UN for a ceasefire which was agreed to by Pakistan on the basis of Nehru’s great promise to the Kashmir people that still needs to be fulfilled. Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू ʤəʋäɦəɾläl nɛɦɾu (14 November 1889 27 May 1964 was a major political leader of the Congress Party India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country This was the promise of a referendum or plebiscite i. e. that the people of Kashmir have the right to self-determination. When it signed the ceasefire in 1948, India promised to offer Kashmiri’s a plebiscite, where they could decide whether to join India or Pakistan, or remain independent. In his won words On October 31, 1947, Nehru wired to Liaquat Ali Khan that this "is not merely a pledge to your government but also to the people of Kashmir and to the world". On November 2 and 3 he used the word "referendum" under U. N. auspices. ^[6]

The matter was brought up in the U. N. and resolutions were passed to hold a plebiscite with regards to Kashmir's future. Both Pakistan and India have not undertaken plebiscites in their respective areas of control in Kashmir. A legal requirement of holding the plebiscite is the vacation by the Indian and Pakistani armies of their respective parts of Kashmir under their administration. A cease fire line separates the Indian and the Pakistani Kashmir territories.

A copy of the ceasefire order can be seen here. ^[7]

The status quo on the line of control has remained ever since. ^[8]

The northern and western parts of Kashmir were subsequently divided by Pakistan into the following political entities:

1. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) - the narrow southern part, 250 miles (400 km) long, with a width varying from 10 to 40 miles (15 to 65 km).
2. Northern Areas - the much larger area to the north of AJK, 72,496 km² (27,991 mi² ), directly administered by Pakistan as a de facto dependent territory, i. The Northern Areas ( Urdu:,) is officially referred to by the government of Pakistan as the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA e. , a non-self-governing territory.
3. Trans-Karakoram Tract - the small region along the northeastern border of the Northern Areas that was ceded by Pakistan to the People's Republic of China in 1963. The Trans-Karakoram Tract is an area of nearly 5800 km² that India claims was transferred by a border agreement from the Pakistani administered Northern Areas

Government

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is a self-governing state under Pakistani control. The Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir, usually shortened to Azad Jammu and Kashmir ( AJK) or simply Azad Kashmir (literally "free It has its own elected president, prime minister, legislature, high court, and official flag. The state is divided into two administrative divisions which, in turn, are composed of a total of eight districts.

Demographics

Like Pakistan, Azad Kashmir is predominantly Muslim. Bhimber is the southernmost of the eight districts of Azad Kashmir. Kotli (کوٹلی is one of the eight districts of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Mirpur District is a district in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir Territory Bagh District is one of the eight districts of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Muzafarabad district of Pakistan is located on the banks of the Jhelum and the Neelum rivers and is very hilly Muzaffarabad is the capital of the Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir. Neelum District is one of the eight districts of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Poonch is one of the eight districts of Azad Kashmir (the area of Kashmir administered by Pakistan) Rawalakot (راولا کوٹ is a city in Azad Kashmir, and is the capital of Poonch District. Sudhnoti is a district of Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. Administration The district is divided into two Tehsils * Balouch Palandri is a small town situated in the Sudhnati District, in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The majority of the population is culturally, linguistically and ethnically related to the people of Northern Punjab. The population of Azad Kashmir includes the following tribes:

Languages

Urdu is the national language of Azad Kashmir but is only spoken by a minority. Awan (اعوان Punjabi Gurmukhi ਆਵਾਨ a South Asian Zamindar tribe putatively of Arab origin living predominantly in Abbasi (عباسی is a prominent Muslim family name Origin The name denotes descent from Abbas ibn Abd-al-Muttalib, the paternal uncle of Prophet Ansari (انصاری is a Nesbat or second name common in South Asia and Middle East. The Gujjar ( Hindi: गुज्जर Urdu: گجر or Gurjar (Hindi गुर्जर Urdu گُرجر are an ethnic group in India and Jarral Rajput The Jarral Rajputs ( Urdu: جـرال راجپوت also spelled Jaral, Jerral) are a prominent Muslim Rajput Quraishi (also rendered as Qureshi, Qoraishi, Koraishi or Kureishi) (قریشی is an Arab family name Malik (ملك) as an Arabic word meaning " king " It has been adopted in various other mainly Asian languages for their ruling princes and to Mughal ( are a Central Asian tribe of Turkic origin settled Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia. Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India Sudhan is a tribe settled in Poonch region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Kashmir in India. This article is about Tarkhan an ancient Turkic title For other uses see Tarkan (disambiguation Tarkhan, Tarkhaan, or Tarqan Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised The dominant language spoken in AJK is Pahari, which is a dialect of Punjabi. Pahari (or Pahaari) is a general terms for a range of dialects spoken across the Himalayan range not limited to a single country in the subcontinent It is very similar to Pothwari and Hindko. Potwari or Pothohari can refer to An inhabitant of Potwar (Pothohar a plateau in northern Pakistan The Potwari language (Pothohari Hindko (هندکو /Hindkoŭ/ also Hindku, Hinko, or Lahnda, لَیہندا is an ancient Indo-Aryan language spoken in North Western

Geography

Azad Kashmir has some very scenic mountains and river valleys.

Economy

In the latter part of 2006, billions of dollars for development were mooted by international aid agencies for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of earthquake-hit zones in Azad Kashmir, though much of those funds have been lost in bureaucratic channels, leading to delay in help reaching the most needy, and hundreds of people are still living in tents. ^[10] A land-use plan for Muzaffarabad city was prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Muzaffarabad is the capital of the Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (独立行政法人国際協力機構 dokuritsu gyōseihōjin kokusai kyōryoku kikō) is an independent governmental agency that coordinates

Gallery

LasDana-HajiPir Road Bagh AJ&K	Sheru Dhara, Bagh AJK	Toli pir 1	Banjosa Rawalakot
Kotli Azad Kashmir	Kotli District Azad Kashmir	Mangla Dam, next to Mirpur City, Azad Kashmir	Village in Sarsawa Valley, Azad Kashmir
Typical Homes in Mirpur	Toli pir 6	Rawalakot Valley	Banjosa Rest House and Lake
Rawalakot Bazaar	Bagh City View

See also

• 2005 Kashmir earthquake
• Indian Kashmir barrier
• Indo-Pakistan Wars
• Kashmiriyat
• Kashmir conflict
• Line of Control
• Pakistan-administered Kashmir

References

1. ^ http://www.indiatogether.org/peace/kashmir/intro.htm
2. ^ http://www.southasianmedia.net/magazine/journal/grasping_nettle.htm
3. ^ http://www.kashmiraffairs.org/interview_krishan%20dev%20sethi.html
4. ^ http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/pakistan/azad_kashmir/mirpur/history/prof_suresh_chand_2
5. ^ http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/army/war/1948war.html
6. ^ http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2120/stories/20041008000307600.htm
7. ^ http://www.indianembassy.org/policy/Kashmir/uncip(s1100).htm
8. ^ http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmogip/
9. ^ Official website, Government of Azad Kashmir. The 2005 Kashmir Earthquake (also known as the South Asian earthquake or the Great Pakistan earthquake) was a major earthquake centred in Azad Kashmir The Indian Kashmir barrier is a 550 km (330 mile Separation barrier along the disputed 1972 Line of Control (or ceasefire line between Indian and Kashmiriyat ( Kashmiri: कश्मीरीयत کشمیریّت Translation: Kashmiri-ness) is the ethno-national and social consciousness and cultural The Kashmir conflict refers to the Territorial dispute between Names Specifically the term "Line of Control" (LOC refers to the military control line between the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of the former princely state The Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir, usually shortened to Azad Jammu and Kashmir ( AJK) or simply Azad Kashmir (literally "free "Facts and Figures". Retrieved on 2006-04-19. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer - Neelum is a recently created district and no figures are available as yet.
10. ^ Rs1.25 trillion to be spent in Azad Kashmir: Reconstruction in quake-hit zone - Dawn Pakistan

External links

• Government of Azad Kashmir
• Tourism site for Azad Kashmir
• Azad Kashmir at the Open Directory Project
• Azad Kashmir travel guide from Wikitravel
• tour guide photo gallery maps of Azad Kashmir
• [http://www.imkashmiri.com/ imkashmiri. The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide. com