The Pir Panjal ranges lie in the Inner Himalayan region, running from east southeast to west northwest across the states of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir in India as well as Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where the average elevation varies from 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) to 4,100 metres (13,500 ft). The Himalayas show a gradual elevation towards the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. Pir Panjal is the largest range of the lower Himalayas. Near the bank of the Sutlej river, it dissociates itself from the Himalayas and forms a divide between the rivers Beas and Ravi on one side and the Chenab on the other.
The Pir Panjal pass to the west of Srinagar, the Banihal pass (2,739 metres (8,986 ft)) which lies at the head of the Jhelum river at the southern end of the Kashmir valley, and the Sythen pass connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Kishtwar are some among the important passes in the region.[1]
Rohtang La is a mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal range connecting Manali in Kullu Valley to Keylong in Lahaul Valley. Haji Pir Pass is a mountain pass on the western Pir Panjal range between Poonch and Uri. Deo Tibba (6,001 metres (19,688 ft)) and Indrasan (6,221 metres (20,410 ft)) are two important peaks at the eastern end of the mountain range. They can be approached from both the Parvati-Beas Valley (Kulu District) and the Chandra (Upper Chenab) Valley (Lahaul and Spiti District) in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The hill station of Gulmarg in Kashmir lies in this range.[2]
Hajipir Pass is in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir area. It has been contested territory over many years, located on the road between Poonch and Uri at a height of 2,637 metres (8,652 ft). The pass, and therefore the strategically significant road, was freed from the control of Pakistani forces and others connected to that country by the Indian Army in 1947. It was later re-occupied by Pakistan, prior to the ceasefire of 1 January 1949, and control was retained until the 1965 war. At that time, India once again gained possession but only briefly, and the pass was returned as a consequence of the Tashkent Agreement.
Hajipir Pass remains a volatile area. Control of its heights means that Pakistani forces overlook the town of Poonch, while militants use it as a route into Kashmir and the Rajouri-Poonch areas. It is dominated by three hill features, namely: Bedori (3,760 metres (12,340 ft) in the east, Sant (2,895 metres (9,498 ft) in the west and Lediwali Gali (3,140 metres (10,300 ft) in the south west. Control of the pass depends on control of these peaks.
Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, the 10.96 Km long railway tunnel, passes through the Pir Panjal Range of middle Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a part of its Udhampur - Srinagar - Baramulla rail link project, opened in October 2011, India's longest and Asia's second longest railway tunnel, which reduced the distance between Quazigund and Banihal to only 11 km .[3]