Azad Jammu and Kashmir, abbreviated as AJK and commonly known as Azad Kashmir, is a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing jurisdiction, and constituting the western portion of the larger Kashmir region which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947, and between India and China since 1962. The territory shares a border with Gilgit-Baltistan, together with which it is referred to by the United Nations and other international organisations as "Pakistan administered Kashmir". Azad Kashmir is one-sixth of the size of Gilgit-Baltistan. The territory also borders Pakistan's Punjab province to the south and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to the west. To the east, Azad Kashmir is separated from the Indian administered Kashmir by the Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan. Azad Kashmir has a total area of 13,297 square kilometres (5,134 sq mi), and a total population of 4,045,366 as per the 2017 Census.
The term Line of Control (LoC) refers to the military control line between the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary, but serves as the de facto border. Originally known as the Cease-fire Line, it was redesignated as the "Line of Control" following the Simla Agreement, which was signed on 3 July 1972. The part of the former princely state that is under Indian control is known as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani-controlled part is divided into Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan. The northernmost point of the Line of Control is known as NJ9842. The India–Pakistan border continues from the southernmost point on the LoC.
The Districts of Pakistan, are the third-order administrative divisions of Pakistan, below provinces and divisions, but forming the first-tier of local government. In total, there are 154 districts in Pakistan including the Capital Territory and the districts of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. These districts are further divided into tehsils or talukas.
Ghulam Nabi Azad is an Indian politician of the Indian National Congress and was the Minister of Health and Family Welfare. Presently, he serves as the Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha.He has served as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister of India in the government of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh until 27 October 2005, when he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He also led the party successfully in the 2002 Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir.
Muzaffarabad is the capital of the Pakistan-administered territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The British Mirpuri community comprises people in the United Kingdom who originate from the Mirpur District in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. While no accurate statistics are available, an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of British Pakistanis in England have origins in the Mirpur District.
Rawalakot is a capital city of Poonch district in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in the Pir Panjal Range. Its other name is Pearl Valley because the abundance of almond blossoms in the valley in summer gives the impression of scattered pearls when viewed from a mountain. It is the heart land of Sudhan tribes which had contributed about sixty thousand soldiers to the British Army during World War II.
The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is located in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. It was established in 1980, and is currently ranked at No.16 in HEC ranking of General category universities in Pakistan.
Pallandri, also spelled Palandri, is a town in Sudhanoti district of Azad Kashmir. It is located at latitude 33° 42′ 54″ N, longitude 73° 41′ 9″ E, 90 km (56 mi) from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. It is connected with Rawalpindi and Islamabad through Azad Pattan road. The main tribe of Pallandri is the Sudhan tribe.
Bhimber is the capital of Bhimber District, in the Pakistan-administered territory of Azad Kashmir. The town is on the border between Kashmir and Pakistan about 50 km (31 mi) from Mirpur, 48 km (30 mi) from Gujrat, 37 km (23 mi) from Jhelum, 166 km (103 mi) from Islamabad and 241 km (150 mi) from Srinagar.
Dhirkot is a town in Bagh District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located 25 km from Kohala, 63 km from Muzaffarabad, and 132 kilometres from Islamabad.
The All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference is a major political party of Azad Kashmir founded by Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas. The party originated as a splinter group within the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference.
Raja Farooq Haider Khan is a Pakistani politician who is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N).
Hattian Bala is one of the ten districts of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Its district headquarters is in the town of Hattian Bala.
Mohi-ud-Din Islamic Medical College is the first Medical College of Azad Jammu & Kashmir in either the public or the private sector.
The Special Communications Organization (SCO) is public sector organization operated by Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and maintained by the Pakistan Army. SCO is playing major role in providing telecommunication services in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.
Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan was a Kashmiri politician who also served as the President and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He also remained President of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference for over 20 years.
The Azad Kashmiri diaspora is the people who migrated out of Azad Kashmir to other areas and countries as well as their descendants.
Bank of Azad Jammu & Kashmir is the state-owned bank of Government of Azad Kashmir which is based in Muzafarabad, Azad Kashmir. It was founded in 2005.
Khalid Mahmood is the 5th Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir. He was elected in June 2017 and took his oath of office on 16 July 2017 in Islamabad.
