Kashmir is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent.
Word Kashmir is compound of many languages and used to called with different name kashyapa-mir, kashyapa-meru in Sanskrit, few of Chinese accounts referred Kashmir as ki-pin and ache-pin, Cashmere is an archaic spelling; all of these means “land of water”, “land of river, lake and mountains”.
The Kashmir Valley situated between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range.
The spectacular valley of Kashmir is divided under three territories.
China occupied Aksai Chin which is also an area of dispute between India and china. The line that separates Indian-administered areas of Jammu and Kashmir from Aksai Chin is known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and is concurrent with the Chinese Aksai Chin claim line. Aksai Chin covers an area of about 37,244 square kilometers (14,380 sq mi).
The term Line of Control (LoC) refers to the military control line between the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of Jammu and Kashmir. 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. Former US President Bill Clinton referred LOC most dangerous place in the world. Line of Control fencing is a 550 km (340 mi) barrier along the 740 km (460 mi) disputed 1972 Line of Control (or ceasefire line). LOC is also known as Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Cease-fire Line.
The beautiful valley of Kashmir has been ruled by numerous powers including Muslims, Sikhs, Hinduism and Buddhism. In the first half of the 1st millennium, the Kashmir region became an important center of Hinduism and later of Buddhism; later in the ninth century, Shaivism arose. Islamization in Kashmir took place during 13th to 15th century and led to the eventual decline of the Kashmir Shaivism in Kashmir. However, the achievements of the previous civilizations were not lost.
In 1339, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Shah Mir dynasty. For the next five centuries, Muslim monarchs ruled Kashmir, including the Mughal Empire, who ruled from 1586 until 1751, and the Afghan Durrani Empire, which ruled from 1747 until 1819. That year, the Sikhs, under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir. In 1846, after the Sikh defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh War, and upon the purchase of the region from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar, the Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh, became the new ruler of Kashmir. The rule of his descendants, under the paramountcy (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until 1947, when the former princely state became a disputed territory, now administered by three countries: India, Pakistan, and the People's Republic of China.
Rulers of Kashmir before independence
1846
Maharaja Gulab Singh busys the region of J&K from east India company.
1947
Upon infiltration from Pakistan Maharaja Hari Singh signed instrument of accession in return for military help from India.
1948
India takes Kashmir issues to UN.
1949
UN mediated a ceasefire and Karachi agreement was signed.
1950
The Indian constitution comes into force Article 1 defines J&K as a state of India Article 370 accords special status to J&K.
1952
Article 35A introduced by president order
1962
China gains control of Aksai Chin in J&K
1965-66
War between India and Pakistan and Tashkent declaration was signed
1971-72
War between Indian and Pakistan; Simla agreement was signed. Loc established.
1977-89
J&K sees a steady rise of Military Insurgency. Kashmiri Pandits flee from Kashmir valley.
1984
Siachen Glacier seized by Indian forces
1999
War erupted over Pakistan’s infiltration in Kargil.
2008
Terrorist affiliated to Lashkar-E-Taiba attack various public place and hotel in Mumbai.
2016
Militants attack Indian army base in Uri, J&K Indian army retaliates with surgical strike across the line of control.
2018
Central rule declared in J&K.
2019
40 Indian paramilitary personnel killed in militant attack. Indian carries out retributive strike on terror camps across the loc in Pakistan’s Balakot region.
2019
Home Minister Amit Shah proposes a presidential order to repeal article 370 and 35A J&K is bifurcated as two union territories of Ladakh and J&K.