MCQ Detailed View

The boundary that separates Azad Kashmir from Indian-occupied Kashmir is called the Line of Control (LoC). This is not an internationally recognized border, but it acts as the de facto dividing line between the two parts of the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.

The history of the Line of Control goes back to the first war between Pakistan and India in 1947–48, shortly after both countries gained independence from British rule. The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which had a Muslim majority population, was ruled by a Hindu Maharaja named Hari Singh. When he decided to join India instead of Pakistan, fighting broke out between Indian and Pakistani forces.

As a result of this war, Kashmir was divided into two parts. One part came under Pakistan’s administration and is known today as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), while the other part remained under Indian control and is often referred to as Indian-occupied Kashmir.

In 1949, under United Nations supervision, a ceasefire line was agreed upon. After the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, this line was renamed the Line of Control in the Simla Agreement of 1972. The LoC is approximately 740 kilometers long and passes through mountains, valleys, and rivers.

Key facts about the Line of Control:

• Divides Azad Kashmir and Indian-held Kashmir


• Created after the 1947–48 war


• Renamed as Line of Control in 1972


• Not an official international border


• Regular site of tension and conflict

 The LoC is heavily militarized, and there have been many clashes along this line over the years. Despite several agreements, peace in the region remains fragile. Understanding the Line of Control is important for anyone studying the Kashmir dispute, Indo-Pak relations, and Pakistan’s political history.