Forward Kahuta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forward Kahuta
فارورڈ کہوٹہ
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City and District Headquarters
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 Forward Kahuta
Location in Azad Kashmir
Forward Kahuta
Location in Kashmir
Forward Kahuta
Location in Pakistan
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| Administering country | Pakistan |
| Dependent Territory | Azad Kashmir |
| District | Haveli |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
Forward Kahuta (Urdu: فارورڈ کہوٹہ) is a town in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is the main town and headquarters of the Haveli District. This district was created in 2009. Before the 1990s, the town was simply called "Kahuta."
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Where is Forward Kahuta?
Forward Kahuta is located on the right side of the Betar Nala, which is a small river. It is about 10 miles north of Poonch Town in Indian-administered Kashmir. The Betar Nala flows into the Poonch River near Poonch Town.
The town sits on a flat area about 200 feet above the river. It is on the way to the Haji Pir pass, which is a mountain pass. Beyond this pass is the town of Uri.
Strategic Location of Haveli District
The Haveli district in Azad Kashmir is very important because of its location. It lies between the towns of Uri and Poonch. Since 1947, control of this area has changed between India and Pakistan several times. However, it has remained under Pakistani control.
In India, this area is sometimes called the "Haji Pir bulge" or the "Kahuta bulge." The town of Bagh, which is the main town of the Bagh District, is 65 kilometers (about 40 miles) from Forward Kahuta. Rawalakot, the main town of the Pakistani Poonch District, is 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) away.
A Look at Forward Kahuta's Past
Historically, this area was very important for rulers who wanted to control the northern parts of Kashmir. The Tanoli tribe was a strong group in this region. Their leader, Mir Jehandad Khan Tanoli, was a tribal chief.
Poonch Region and Its Rulers
The Poonch jagir (which was like a large estate) became part of the Sikh Empire in 1819. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a powerful Sikh ruler, gave this land to Raja Dhian Singh. Dhian Singh was a favorite minister from the Dogra dynasty.
Raja Dhian Singh and his family managed the Poonch region until 1947. Later, the maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir gained more control over the Poonch jagir.
Building the Road and Bridge
Raja Baldev Singh built a road that went from Poonch to the Haji Pir pass, passing through Kahuta. He also built a suspension bridge over the Betar Nala near the town. This bridge was later improved and became a wooden bridge.
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the bridge was burned down. This happened when soldiers from Jammu and Kashmir State Forces thought an Indian relief group was an enemy attack. However, a part of the Indian group still reached Poonch and helped the town survive a difficult time.
