Frontier Districts

This unique book examines the Frontier Districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the princely state’s largest province. There are few books about this remote, mountainous region. In 1947, the Frontier Districts comprised Ladakh (sub-districts: Kargil, Ladakh, Skardu), Astore, the Gilgit Agency (Hunza, Nagar, Punial, Ishkuman, Yasin, Kuh-Ghizar, Chilas), and Gilgit (Leased Area). Ladakh was an important entrepot for trade with Sinkiang and Tibet; Astore was a transport hub; both Gilgit regions were highly important strategically. Challengingly, some Gilgit-Baltistanis now claim that Gilgit-Baltistan was not part of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. Administratively, however, did a Baltistan region ever exist? And were the nearby Aksai Chin and Shaksgam areas (now disputed by China and India) part of the Frontier Districts? This book answers these questions – and more. Using primary source information, it details: how the strategic Frontier Districts Province came into being after 1846 what this province comprised how it was administered during Dogra rule from 1846 its division by fighting in 1947-1948 its composition and administration after the 1949 ceasefire. This book enables readers to better understand the physical com­position, geography, history, importance and foreign connections of the Frontier Districts Province and its surroundings.