Azad Kashmir Regular Force
The Azad Kashmir Regular Force (AKRF), formerly known as the Kashmir Liberation Forces(KLF), were the irregular forces of Azad Kashmir until 1948. They then were taken over by the government of Pakistan and converted into a regular force. In this form, the unit became part of the country's paramilitary forces, operating out of the nominally self-governing territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The AKRF was altered from a functioning paramilitary force and merged into the Pakistan Army as an infantry regiment following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Azad Kashmir Regular Force | |
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Active | 1947–1972 |
Allegiance | Azad Kashmir Pakistan |
Type | Infantry |
Size | 35 Battalion sized regiments |
Headquarters | Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan |
Motto(s) | Arabic: ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ "God is the Greatest" |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Lt. Gen. Akhtar Hussain Malik Maj. Malik M. K. Awan Maj. Muhammad Din |
A majority of the Pakistani troops who were deployed to infiltrate the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir during Operation Gibraltar in August 1965 were in service with the AKRF. Its failure led to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.