Azad Kashmir

**Azad Jammu and Kashmir**, () also just called **Azad Kashmir** is a self-governing Pakistani region. In terms of land area it is bigger than Trinidad and Tobago but smaller than Brunei.

Geographically, to the north, is the Gilgit-Baltistan province, while to the south borders the province of the Pakistani Punjab, and to the east being the Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The capital city of Azad Kashmir is Muzaffarabad. Azad Kashmir has an area of 5,134 mi² (13,297 km²). The inhabitants of this region are mostly of ethnic Pahari origin. About 4 million people live there.

## Government and politics

Azad Kashmir is a self-governing state under Pakistan. It has its own elected president, prime minister, legislature, high court, emblem and official flag. However, the highest body in the state is the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council. This council has six members from the government of Azad Kashmir (including the President and the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir) and five members from the government of Pakistan, including the President of Pakistan who is the chairman/chief executive of the council. Azad Kashmir is administratively divided into three divisions which, in turn, are divided into ten districts.

The Government of Azad Kashmir is based in Muzaffarabad, the interim state capital of the Azad Kashmir disputed territory.

## Divisions

The state is divided into three divisions. The divisions are further divided into districts. There are 10 districts.

|Division|District|Area (km²)|Population (1998)|Headquarters||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|**Mirpur**|Bhimber|1,516|301,633|Bhimber||
|Kotli|1,862|563,094|Kotli|||
|Mirpur|1,010|333,482|Mirpur|||
|rowspan="3"|Muzaffarabad|Muzaffarabad|2,496|453,975|Muzaffarabad|
|Hattian||166,064||||
|Neelum Valley|3621|125,712|Authmuqam|||
|**Poonch**|Poonch|855|411,035|Rawalakot||
|Haveli|600 (est.)|111,694 (est.)|Forward Kahuta|||
|Bagh|768|281,721|Bagh|||
|Sudhnoti|569|224,091|Pallandari|||
|colspan=5 style="background: black"||||||
|**AJK Total**|10 districts|13,297|2,972,501|Muzaffarabad||

## Geography

The northern part of Azad Jammu and Kashmir encompasses the lower area of the Himalayas, including Jamgarh Peak (). However, Hari Parbat peak in 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 region receives rainfall in both the winter and the summer. Muzaffarabad and Pattan are among the wettest areas of Pakistan. Throughout most of the region, the average rainfall exceeds 1400 mm, with the highest average rainfall occurring near Muzaffarabad (around 1800 mm). During the summer season, monsoon floods of the rivers Jhelum and Leepa are common due to extreme rains and snow melting.

|Title|Symbol|Image|
| --- | --- | --- |
|**State animal**|Kashmir markhor||
|**State bird**|Kashmir Koklass pheasant||
|**State flower**|Kashmir White||
|**State tree**|Himalayan birch tree||

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Azad Kashmir
- **official name**: Azād Kashmīr
- **native name lang**: ur
- **image skyline**: Azad kashmir.jpg
- **image flag**: Flag of Azad Kashmir.svg
- **image seal**: Emblem Of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.png
- **image map**: Azad Kashmir in Pakistan (disputed hatched) (claims hatched).svg
- **map caption**: Location of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
- **image map1**: Azad Kashmir Location Map.svg
- **subdivision type**: List of sovereign states, Country
- **established title**: Established
- **established date**: 24 October  1947
- **seat type**: Capital
- **seat**: Muzaffarabad
- **parts type**: Largest city
- **parts style**: para
- **p1**: Mirpur
- **government type**: Autonomous Administrative units of Pakistan, territory of Pakistan
- **governing body**: Legislative Assembly
- **leader title**: List of Presidents of Azad Kashmir, President
- **leader title1**: List of Prime Ministers in Azad Kashmir, Prime Minister
- **unit pref**: Metric
- **area total km2**: 13,297
- **population total**: 4,567,982
- **population as of**: 2008; est.
- **population density km2**: auto
- **timezone1**: Pakistan Standard Time, PKT
- **utc offset1**: +5
- **iso code**: PK-JK
- **blank name sec1**: Languages, Main Language(s)
- **blank name sec2**: Assembly seats
- **blank info sec2**: 33
- **blank1 name sec2**: Districts of Pakistan, Districts
- **blank1 info sec2**: 10
- **website**: [http://azadkashmir.gov.pk/ azadkashmir.gov.pk]
- **type**: Autonomous State
- **blank2 name sec2**: Towns
- **blank3 name sec2**: Union Councils of Pakistan, Union Councils