After the partition of India in 1947, Jammu and Kashmir remained an independent state. Tribals from Pakistan invaded Kashmir and were backed by regular Pakistani troops. Fearing the might of Pakistani Forces, Kashmir sought military help from India and, in return, the Maharaja agreed to accede to India. India accepted this, and the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947 was fought to send Pakistani forces back. However, the war was not decisive and a cease-fire was called in 1948. The end of the war saw India gaining most of Kashmir, including the fertile parts of it, with Pakistan securing the northern and western parts of Kashmir. The part of Kashmir to the north and west of the cease-fire line or the Line of Control, known as the Northern Areas (72,496 km²) in the north and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (13,297 km²) in the south, is controlled by Pakistan.
The name "Northern Areas" was first used by the United Nations to refer to the northern areas of Kashmir. A small part of the Northern Areas, the Trans-Karakoram Tract, was ceded to the People's Republic of China by Pakistan in 1963.
Gilgit and Baltistan, were ruled by small Chieftains until the beginning of the 19th century. They were in constant conflict amongst one another. Taking advantage of their weaknesses and mutual rivalries, the dogra regime of Kashmir annexed these territories around the middle of the 19th century even though they found the control of the area difficult. Baltistan was administered directly by the Kashmir Government as a part of Laddakh district with Headquarters at Leh. The British Indian Government got interested in the region following the political developments in Russian and Chinese Turkistan during The British Indian Government got interested in the region following the political developments in Russian and Chinese Turkistan during the late 19th centruy. The Political Agency of Gilgit was established during 1877 under the charge of a British agent. It was withdrawn a couples of years later only to be recreated in 1892. The princely states of Hunza, Nagar and the small principalities of Yasin, Punyal, Ishkoman and Gupis were made to pay allegiance to the British agent leaving them nominally independent. In 1935 the British acquired the Gilgit Wazarat on lease for a 60 year period from the Maharaja of Kashmir.
Diamir District, excepting Astore Sub-division, was administered like a tribal territory by the Assistant Political Agent at Chilas. His official residence known as “the Journey’s End”, was appropriately named because the British Officer posted there, had to traverse a long distance by sea, road, horse-back as well as on foot before reaching Chilas where the arduous journey ended after months of travel.
Just before Independence in 1947 the lease over Gilgit was terminated and it was handed back to the Maharaja of Kashmir terminated and it was handed back to the Maharaja of Kashmir who appointed Brigadier Gansara Singh as Governor of Gilgit. This position was not acceptable to the people who took up arms and fought against the Dogara army and liberated the land with the assistance of the Gilgit Scouts and forces sent from all parts of Northern Areas and also from Chitral. The names of Captain (later Colonel) Mirza Hassan Khan. Major (later Brigadier) Mohammad Aslam Khan, Major Ehsan Ali, sub Major (later captain) Babar subedar (later Group Capt.) Shah Khan, Subedar Sher Ali,Subedar Safiullah and Bakhtawar shah to mention a few would always serve as an inspiration to people here for their acts of supreme courage and valour. The Liberation Day is celebration every year on 1st November with great jubilations. After liberation of Northern Area on 1st November 1947, the local people through their Supreme Council, asked the Government of Pakistan to send their representative to take over the territory in its protection. The Government of Pakistan accepted and Sardar Mohammad Alam Khan, the first Political Agent arrived in Gilgit on 16-11-1947.
In Baltistan the Dogra forces were besieged by the freedom fighters at Kharfocho fort. Much of the force outside the fort was killed. When the siege prolonged and the Dogra army saw no chance of survival, it surrendered and was subsequently allowed to leave. This coincided with the Independence day of Pakistan of 14th August, 1948.
The name "Northern Areas" was first used by the United Nations to refer to the northern areas of Kashmir. A small part of the Northern Areas, the Trans-Karakoram Tract, was ceded to the People's Republic of China by Pakistan in 1963.
Gilgit and Baltistan, were ruled by small Chieftains until the beginning of the 19th century. They were in constant conflict amongst one another. Taking advantage of their weaknesses and mutual rivalries, the dogra regime of Kashmir annexed these territories around the middle of the 19th century even though they found the control of the area difficult. Baltistan was administered directly by the Kashmir Government as a part of Laddakh district with Headquarters at Leh. The British Indian Government got interested in the region following the political developments in Russian and Chinese Turkistan during The British Indian Government got interested in the region following the political developments in Russian and Chinese Turkistan during the late 19th centruy. The Political Agency of Gilgit was established during 1877 under the charge of a British agent. It was withdrawn a couples of years later only to be recreated in 1892. The princely states of Hunza, Nagar and the small principalities of Yasin, Punyal, Ishkoman and Gupis were made to pay allegiance to the British agent leaving them nominally independent. In 1935 the British acquired the Gilgit Wazarat on lease for a 60 year period from the Maharaja of Kashmir.
Diamir District, excepting Astore Sub-division, was administered like a tribal territory by the Assistant Political Agent at Chilas. His official residence known as “the Journey’s End”, was appropriately named because the British Officer posted there, had to traverse a long distance by sea, road, horse-back as well as on foot before reaching Chilas where the arduous journey ended after months of travel.
Just before Independence in 1947 the lease over Gilgit was terminated and it was handed back to the Maharaja of Kashmir terminated and it was handed back to the Maharaja of Kashmir who appointed Brigadier Gansara Singh as Governor of Gilgit. This position was not acceptable to the people who took up arms and fought against the Dogara army and liberated the land with the assistance of the Gilgit Scouts and forces sent from all parts of Northern Areas and also from Chitral. The names of Captain (later Colonel) Mirza Hassan Khan. Major (later Brigadier) Mohammad Aslam Khan, Major Ehsan Ali, sub Major (later captain) Babar subedar (later Group Capt.) Shah Khan, Subedar Sher Ali,Subedar Safiullah and Bakhtawar shah to mention a few would always serve as an inspiration to people here for their acts of supreme courage and valour. The Liberation Day is celebration every year on 1st November with great jubilations. After liberation of Northern Area on 1st November 1947, the local people through their Supreme Council, asked the Government of Pakistan to send their representative to take over the territory in its protection. The Government of Pakistan accepted and Sardar Mohammad Alam Khan, the first Political Agent arrived in Gilgit on 16-11-1947.
In Baltistan the Dogra forces were besieged by the freedom fighters at Kharfocho fort. Much of the force outside the fort was killed. When the siege prolonged and the Dogra army saw no chance of survival, it surrendered and was subsequently allowed to leave. This coincided with the Independence day of Pakistan of 14th August, 1948.
