Other Definitions
jammu and kashmir (dest)
jammu and kashmir (dict)
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Jammu And Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir is a historic state in Asia which is currently split into regions administered by India, Pakistan, and to a lesser extent, China. The Government of India claims the entire area to be a part of India (as its northernmost state) including the area administered by Pakistan which it calls Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or POK. Pakistan, however, does not recognize the region as being a part of India and calls the region under Indian control "Occupied Kashmir" while the region under its control is called Azad Kashmir meaning "Free Kashmir", except for the separately-administered Northern Areas. The Indian government prohibits any publication describing the area as a disputed territory as opposed to an integral part of India, which, for example, has led to a ban on the import of Encyclopdia Britannica CD-ROMs into India in 1998 http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19980826/23850324.html. Jammu and Kashmir consists of three main areas: Jammu, the Kashmir Valley (Kashmir), and Ladakh. It was a princely state with a Muslim majority ruled by a Hindu Maharaja (king) until 1947. When Maharaja Hari Singh refused to accede to either India or Pakistan, choosing to stay independent, Pathan tribesmen encouraged by the Pakistani government invaded. The Maharaja quickly acceded to India, which repulsed the invasion with its troops. Since then, India and Pakistan have disputed control over Jammu and Kashmir, with both countries claiming the entire state. The de facto situation is that Pakistan controls just under half, China a small portion, and India just over half the state. India and Pakistan have been to war three times in Kashmir (1947-1948, 1965, 1971) and clashed there again during the Kargil Conflict of 1999. Islamic militants have started a process of ethnic cleansing, thus forcing a large number of minorities and original inhabitants to leave the Kashmir valley. Islamic militant camps, promoting Jihad, employ mercenaries and are present on the other side of the border, in the forests of Pakistan. Tension appeared again between the two countries in 2001-2002, prompted by what India considered to be Pakistani moves to support terrorists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. See also External links
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