Forum Pakistan

(Urdu: Free Kashmir) A state that emerged in the southwestern territory of the state of Jammu and *Kashmir in the division of British possessions in South Asia and the formation of independent Pakistan and the Indian Union. Area: 13,297 sq.km.

Administrative centre:
Muzaffarabad. The native population speaks Pahari, *Punjabi, and Gujuri (a dialect of Rajasthani). After 1947, more than 200,000 *Kashmiri refugees moved to Azad Kashmir from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. The entire population of Azad Kashmir is Muslim. Administratively, Azad Kashmir is divided into five di tricts: Bagh, Mirpur, Kotli, Poonch and Muzaffarabad. The formation of Azad Kashmir was preceded by armed raids (encouraged by the state's administration) on the Muslim villages in Jammu. On 24 October 1947, Azad Kashmir was proclaimed in Muzaffarabad; its government was headed by Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim, a native of Poonch.

Azad Kashmir's economy is agriculture, including farming, market gardening, semi-nomadic cattle breeding and logging. A part of the population, notably the Gujars, leads a semi-nomadic life. Traditional home crafts are well developed. Azad Kashmir has a University in Muzaffarabad and a polytechnic institute in Rawalakot.While officially independent, with its own president, parliament, government and courts, Azad Kashmir is heavily controlled by Pakistan. According to the Constitution of Azad Kashmir, the Government of Pakistan issues banknotes, ensures the defence and security of Azad Kashmir and controls its foreign relations. Since the 1970s, many public organizations in Azad Kashmir have advocated its formal incorporation in Pakistan. (See, Kashmir).

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Yu.v. Gankavsky, 'Azad Kashmir, Kratkiye soobshcheniya Instituta narodov Azii AN SSSR', No. 51, Moscow, 1962 (in Russian); J. Korbel, 'Danger in Kashmir', Princeton, 1954.