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ThePakistan-administered districts of the former Jammu Province refer to the areas of the pre-1947 princely state ofJammu and Kashmir that historically formed part ofJammu Province and have been administered byPakistan since the1947–48 conflict. These districts—Mirpur,Bhimber,Sudhanoti, andKotli—were classified within theJammu Division inDogra and colonial records, distinguishing them from theKashmir Valley in terms of geography, language, and historical administration.[1][2]
Following the 1947–48 hostilities, the districts were incorporated into the governance structure that Pakistan designates asAzad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Within this framework, the territories have often been represented under a broader Kashmiriyat label, a cultural and political category associated primarily with the Kashmir Valley. Academic studies note that this Valley-centric framing does not reflect the historical identity of the Jammu districts and has contributed to the reduced visibility of their distinct Jammu-based linguistic, cultural, and regional heritage in contemporary classifications.[3][4]
Post-1947 developments, including the construction of theMangla Dam, reshaped the region’s social and economic landscape, resulting in large-scale displacement and the formation of a significant migrant community in theUnited Kingdom.[5][6][7]Today, the districts remain geographically and culturally distinct within the wider Pakistan-administered areas of the former princely state, and are increasingly referenced in historical, linguistic, and diaspora research concerned with the pre-Partition boundaries and identities of Jammu Province..
Prior to 1947, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into several administrative divisions, including Jammu Province, which encompassed Jammu, Doda, Kathua, Ramban, Reasi, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Samba, Mirpur, Bhimber, Sudhanoti, and Kotli.[1][2] Following the events of 1947, the western districts of the Jammu Province —Mirpur, Bhimber, Sudhanoti, and Kotli, areas historically associated with Chibhal – Dogra rule—came under Pakistani administration.[8]
Though contemporary political terminology often subsumes these districts within “Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” historical sources consistently classify them as part of Jammu Province and culturally distinct from the Kashmir Valley.Before Dogra rule in the 19th Century, Bhimber and the surrounding hill tracts were governed by the Chibhal Dynasty, a Rajput lineage that maintained semi-autonomous status under Mughal and Sikh authority.[9].
Across this region, a shared cultural and linguistic landscape developed, characterised byPahari-speaking populations and Rajput, Jat, and Gujjar clans whose social and economic networks were embedded in the broader Jammu highlands[10][4]
In both academic and diaspora literature, some scholars employ the term “Jammu Province (Pakistan Administered)” to emphasise the area’s Dogra–Chib–Mangral heritage, its historical differentiation from the Kashmir Valley, and its relative political marginalisation in post-Partition narratives[8][11][12]
The All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference was founded in 1932 bySheikh Mohammad Abdullah,Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, and others to advocate political reform.[13] In 1939, Abdullah reconstituted it as the National Conference, aiming to widen its base across the princely[14]This shift alienated many Jammu-origin members, including Abbas, who revived the Muslim Conference in 1941 in response to what they perceived as Kashmir Valley-centric politics.[15]
In early 1948, a leaflet circulated in Mirpur, Bhimber, and Kotli proclaimed the establishment of an “Azad Government of Jammu and Kashmir.”[13] Historians regard this announcement as a wartime, Pakistan-backed proclamation rather than a product of local electoral mandate.[16] The term “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” thus originated in a context of conflict rather than through constitutional or popular processes.[17]
During the1947 Partition, Mirpur experienced one of the most severe civilian tragedies in the western districts of the former Jammu Province, remembered locally as Khooni Manglawaray (“Bloody Tuesday”).[18]On 25 November 1947, armed conflict, communal violence, and the collapse of local administrative structures converged, leading to large-scale killings, the displacement of thousands of civilians, and the abduction of a significant portion of the population.[19]Contemporary accounts describe Mirpur town as being overwhelmed after a prolonged siege, during which food shortages and the absence of effective protection left residents exposed to attack.[20]
The events of that day—and the days immediately following—are collectively referred to as theMirpur Massacre or Khooni Manglawaray, a term used in regional memory, survivor testimony, and sections of diaspora literature to describe the magnitude of human loss.[21]Many survivors were taken across the border into what is now Pakistan-administered territory, while others perished during forced marches or in makeshift detention sites.[20] The episode remains a defining moment in Mirpur’s modern history, shaping community identity, intergenerational narratives of loss, and annual commemorations held by Mirpuri and Jammu-origin communities worldwide.[22]
The western districts of the historical Jammu Province that came under Pakistani administration in 1947—Mirpur, Bhimber, Sudhanoti, and Kotli—lie along the foothills of thePir Panjal range, forming the transitional ecological zone between theHimalayan highlands and the plains ofPunjab.[23][24] The terrain is characterised byundulating hills, seasonal river valleys (nullahs), and semi-arid plains, with elevations generally rising from the south (Bhimber) toward the north and east (Kotli and Sudhanoti).[25][26]
TheJhelum River, originating in the Kashmir Valley, traverses parts of Mirpur District and forms a major hydrological feature of the region.[27][28][29] Construction of the Mangla Dam in the 1960s created one of South Asia’s largest reservoirs, reshaping the landscape and submerging several historic settlements.[30][31]. Numerous smaller tributaries and streams, including the Poonch River and Kanshi stream system, drain the surrounding hills and contribute to the area’s agricultural viability.[32][33][34]
Climatically, the region experiences subtropical conditions with hot summers and mild winters, though higher-altitude areas in Kotli and Sudhanoti receive cooler temperatures and occasional winter snowfall.[35][36][37] Vegetation varies from scrub forests and acacia in the lower Bhimber plains to pine-covered ridges in the upper highlands, reflecting the shift from Punjab’s plains to the Himalayan ecosystem.[38][39][40]
The area forms part of the cultural and ecological continuum of the Jammu hills, historically linked to the Dogra–Chib–Mangral domains, and remains geographically distinct from the Kashmir Valley’s elevated plateau and temperate climate zone.[41][42][43]
Following the 1947–48 conflict, the districts of Mirpur, Bhimber, Sudhanoti, and Kotli were incorporated into the administrative framework created under the “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” (AJK) arrangement.[13] Although nominally presented as a self-governing entity, the region’s governance structure has historically operated with significant oversight from Pakistan’s federal institutions.[8]Key areas—including defence, foreign policy, currency, and major infrastructure—have remained under Pakistan’s authority, while local institutions exercised limited administrative functions.[44] Subsequent constitutional orders and revisions further shaped this relationship, with scholars noting that decision-making power has often rested outside the region itself.[45]
Economically, the area transitioned from a predominantly agrarian economy to one shaped by remittances, hydropower development, and service-sector employment.[46] The construction of the Mangla Dam in the 1960s marked a transformational moment: it created one of South Asia’s largest reservoirs, displaced tens of thousands of people, submerged historic settlements in Mirpur District, and generated substantial hydroelectric output for Pakistan’s national grid.[47][48] Compensation schemes and resettlement policies led to significant migration from Mirpur to the United Kingdom, creating a transnational economic link that continues to influence household incomes, property investment, and local development patterns.[46]
Agriculture remains significant in Bhimber and parts of Kotli and Sudhanoti, supported by wheat, maize, and livestock production.[49] However, limited industrialisation, restricted institutional autonomy, and structural dependency on external governance have contributed to uneven economic growth.[8] Development initiatives—such as road networks, education expansion, and hydropower projects—have frequently been shaped by national-level priorities rather than local planning processes.[7] As a result, economic opportunities vary considerably across districts, with Mirpur benefiting from remittance-driven construction and trade, while more rural areas maintain mixed subsistence and cash-crop economies.[46]
The region’s cultural identity reflects Chibhal–Dogra heritage, Pahari-speaking communities, and longstanding Rajput, Jat, and Gujjar traditions[50]Jammu Pahari (commonly mislabelled “Potwari”) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken across Mirpur, Bhimber, and Kotli, extending into the Pothohar Plateau.[51] The Dogra-era term Potar (پوتر/پٹھار) simply meant “plateau” and was never used as a linguistic designation[52] Colonial and Pakistani classifications later imposed “Pothohar/Potwari,” leading to widespread mislabelling.[8][53]
Scholars place Jammu Pahari within theLahnda (Western Punjabi) subgroup, retaining phonological and structural features typical of Pahari languages.[54] The region has a rich tradition of folk songs, Sufi poetry, and oral literature.[55] Contemporary diaspora scholarship emphasises the language’s role in identity and cultural continuity.[56]
Religious life encompasses bothSunni andShia traditions, underpinned by a longstandingSufi heritage. The region contains numerousmosques, Sufi darbars[57], and a significant number of Shiaimam-barghas,[58] while Sufi gatherings remain more prevalent in rural areas than in the main cities.[59] Key shrines such as Baba Shadi Shaheed (Bhimber), Mai Toti Sahiba (Kotli), and Pir Shah Ghazi/Kharri Sharif (Mirpur) function as central spiritual institutions for local communities.[60]Remnants of old Mirpur are still visible around the Mangla region, including the Shivala Temple and a number of formerGurdwaras.[61] These structures, once used byHindu andSikh communities, now lie largely in ruins due to lack of maintenance or heritage protection.
Migration to the UK occurred after the Mangla Dam’s construction (1961–1967).[5][6][7] Communities inBradford,Birmingham,Rochdale, andLuton maintain strong transnational ties.[62][63] Increasingly, many identify as Jammūvī, reflecting roots in the Jammu highlands rather than the Kashmir Valley.[64]
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