Kashmir is One of The Most Attractive and beautiful Area of Subcontinent
Azad
Jammu and Kashmir, often called paradise on earth, has a lush
green mountain region North of Pakistan. At the time of independence of
Pakistan, all Muslim majority areas wanted to be part of Pakistan. Kashmir, an
80% Muslim majority region did not become part of Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan
administered 1/3rd of Kashmiri area,
also known as, Azad Kashmir. Kashmir
is the northernmost geographical region of South Asia. Until the mid 19th
century, the term, Kashmir, denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas
and the Pir Panjal mountain range. At the time of the Partition of India, in
1947, the British abandoned their suzerainty over the princely states, which
were left with the options of joining India or Pakistan or remaining
independent. Hari Singh, the maharaja of Jammu
and Kashmir, wanted his state to remain neutral. Muslims in Western Jammu
province, current day Azad Kashmir, and the Frontier Districts Province,
current day Gilgit
Baltistan, had wanted to join Pakistan. Today, it denotes a larger area
that includes the Indian-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir,
subdivided into Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh divisions, the
Pakistani-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Azad Jammu and Kashmir
abbreviated as AJK and commonly known as Azad Kashmir, is a self-governing
administrative division of Pakistan. The territory lies west of the
Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, and was previously part of the
former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which ceased to live as a result of
the first Kashmir war fought between India and Pakistan in 1947.
Azad
Kashmir is part of the greater Kashmir region, which is the
subject of a long-running conflict between India and Pakistan. The territory
shares a border with Gilgit Baltistan, together with which it is mentioned by
the United Nations and other international organisations as,
Pakistan-administered Kashmir.The territory also borders Pakistan's Punjab
province to the south and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province to the west. To the east, Azad Kashmir is kept
separate from the Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir by the Line of
Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan. Azad Kashmir has a
total area of 13,297 square km, with an estimated population of around 4.6 million
people. The territory is under a parliamentary form
of government modeled after the Westminster system, with its capital located at
Muzaffarabad. The President of Azad Kashmir is the constitutional head of the
state, while the prime minister, supported by a Council of Ministers, is the
chief executive. The unicameral Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly
elects both the prime minister and president. The state has its Supreme Court
and a High Court, while the Government of Pakistan's Ministry of Kashmir
Affairs serves as a link between it and Azad Kashmir's government. Neither Azad
Kashmir nor Gilgit Baltistan elects members to Pakistan's National Assembly.
The 2005 earthquake killed 100,000 people and
left another three million people displaced, with widespread devastation. Since
then, with help from the Government of Pakistan and foreign donors,
reconstruction of infrastructure is in progress. Azad Kashmir
has been agriculture which meant that land was the main source or mean of
production. This means that all food for immediate and long term consumption
was produced from the land. The production included various crops, fruits,
vegetables etc. Land was also the source of other livelihood necessities such
as wood, fuel, grazing for animals which then turned into dairy products.
Because of this land was likewise the main source of revenue for the
governments whose primary purpose for centuries was to accumulate revenue. Agriculture is an important part of Azad
Kashmir's economy. Low-lying areas that have high populations grow crops like
barley, mangoes, millet, corn, maize, and wheat, and also raise cattle. In the
elevated areas that are less populated and more spread-out, forestry, corn, and
livestock are the main sources of income. There are mineral and marble
resources in Azad Kashmir close to Mirpur and Muzaffarabad. There are also
graphite deposits at Mohriwali. There are further reservoirs of low-grade coal,
chalk, bauxite, and zircon. Local household industries produce carved wooden
objects, textiles, and dhurrie carpets. There is also an art and crafts
industry that produces such cultural goods as namdas, shawls, pashmina,
pherans, Papier-mâché, basketry copper, rugs, wood carving, silk and woolen
clothing, patto, carpets, namda gubba, and silverware. Agricultural goods
produced in the region include mushrooms, honey, walnuts, apples, cherries,
medicinal herbs and plants, resin, deodar, kail, chir, fir, maple, and ash
timber. Nearly, 87% of households own farms in Azad Kashmir, while the region has
a literacy rate of approximately 72% and has the highest school enrollment in
Pakistan.
The northern part of Azad
Jammu and Kashmir encompasses the lower part of the Himalayas, including
Jamgarh Peak 4,734m. However, Sarwali peak in the Neelum Valley is the highest
peak in the state. Fertile, green, mountainous valleys are characteristic of
Azad Kashmir's geography, making it one of the most beautiful regions of the
subcontinent. The southern parts of Azad Kashmir including Bhimber, Mirpur and
Kotli districts have extremely hot weather in summers and moderate cold weather
in winters. It receives rains mostly in monsoon weather. Paddy field in Leepa
valley. In the central and northern parts of state weather remains moderate hot
in summers and very cold and chilly in winter. Snowfall also occurs there in
December and January. This region receives rainfall in both winters and
summers. Muzaffarabad and Pattan are among the wettest areas of the state.
Throughout most of the region, the average rainfall exceeds 1400mm, with the
highest average rainfall occurring near Muzaffarabad, around 1800mm. During
summer, monsoon floods of the Jhelum and Leepa rivers are common, due to high
rainfall and melting snow. Azad Jammu
& Kashmir is a fascinating land of people, languages & culture. The
texture of the present population is composed of races claiming their descent
from Semitic, Mongoloid, Aryans, Persians, Turks & Arabs. The people of
districts in Kotli, Mirpur & Bhimber, are sturdy, simple, truthful and
deeply attached to their land. The Kashmiri culture looks like that of the
adjoining area of Punjab. The people of districts of Poonch, Bagh &
Sudhanoti are brave and there are numerous anecdotes of their matchless
valour as well as inspiring sacrifices for freedom. While district Muzaffarabad
has its own distinctive culture. The people of the State are intelligent,
ingenious, hard working & skillful.
The culture of Azad Kashmir has many
similarities to that of northern Punjabi, Potohar, culture in Punjab province.
The natives of Azad Kashmir speak Urdu, Potwari, and the Pahari languages. The
Kashmiri language is spoken by hardly 5% of Azad Kashmir's population according
to Kashmiri journalist Shujaat
Bukhari. Professor Khawaja Abdul Rehman states that the Kashmiri language is on
the verge of dying out in the Neelam Valley. The traditional dress of the women
is the shalwar kameez in Pahari style. The shalwar kameez is commonly worn by
both men and women. Women use shawl to cover their head and upper body.
Azad
Jammu & Kashmir is very rich in natural beauty. Its
snow-covered peaks, dense forests, winding rivers, turbulent foaming streams,
sweet-scented valleys, velvet green plateaus and climate varying from arctic to
tropical, all work together to make it an excellent tourist resort. Valleys
like Neelum, Jhelum, Leepa, Rawalakot, Banjosa, Samahni & Baghser unfold
delightful scenic beauty and provide a feast of pleasure to a discerning
tourist's eyes. Azad Kashmir is also blessed with a varied mountainous
landscape ranging from low hills to high mountains 2000m to 6000m most suitable
for soft to medium adventure tourism. The area provides excellent opportunities
for rock climbing, trekking, mountaineering, summer camping and hikes.
Moreover, blessed with a large number of river & streams Azad Kashmir offers great potential for
white water sports, especially rafting, canoeing and kayaking.
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