Area: Former princely state comprises the Hindu-majority plains of Jammu, the mainly Muslim Kashmir Valley and the predominantly Buddhist Ladakh region. India holds 101,387 sq. km of Kashmir, Pakistan controls 78,114 sq km known as "Azad Kashmir" or Free Kashmir, the two areas divided by heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC). China has occupied 38,000 sq. km Aksai Chin portion of Ladakh since 1959. India says China also illegally occupies 5,180 sq. km of northern Kashmir which Pakistan ceded to Beijing in 1963.
Capital: Srinagar.
Little-known fact: The world's highest battleground is the 6,100-metre Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir.
Recent History:
Until 1947: The population of Kashmir is mainly Muslim.
1947: With independence and partition, the Hindu Maharajah of Kashmir, Sir Hari Singh, announces Kashmir's accession to India. Fighting breaks out in the state and India and Pakistan move in troops.
December 1948: War ends with UN-brokered cease-fire. Peace commission set up, cease-fire line agreed on June 26th, 1949.
1951: The Maharajah leaves Kashmir, a republic is declared, and his son, Karan Singh, elected head of state.
1957: Kashmir incorporated into India despite protests from UN.
1959: China occupies Aksai Chin portion of Ladakh.
1963: Another portion of northern Kashmir ceded by Pakistan to Beijing.
1965: India and Pakistan fight their second war over Kashmir, ending with a UN-mediated cease-fire, the Tashkent Agreement.
1971: India and Pakistan fight in Kashmir, but war 1972: Current line of control accepted by both sides.
Since 1984: Sporadic fighting takes place on the Siachen glacier when India occupies an area which Pakistan said was under its control.
Since 1990: More than 24,000 people die in a Muslim separatist campaign in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
1999: Muslim rebels storm the 14,036 sq. km Kargil mountain zone, 100 km north-east of Srinagar. India and Pakistan locked in a new wave of artillery clashes on Kashmir border since May 9th.