[4][5] 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.

[6] 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.

[15] Christopher Snedden estimates that 50,000 youth joined the Army during the war, calling themselves "Punjabi Musalmans" and serving in the Punjab Regiment(s).

To quote the words of the Pakistan Army's Official Portal "They liberated over 34,000 square miles of the State's territory that is now called Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Areas."

Being well aware of the aspirations of the people of the State, the Pakistani Government under the leadership of Governor-General M A Jinnah and Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan decided to support the Lashkars.

India meanwhile managed to get the Instrument of accession signed by the Hindu Maharaja of state and landed its Military forces in the valley using massive airlifts.

Fierce fighting continued for over a year but AKRF with the assistance of Pakistani tribals and the regular army managed to capture the Districts of Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh, Rawlakot, Muzaffarabad and Neelum.

All of the AKRF battalions were part of the 12th Infantry Division (Pakistan) that carried out Operation Gibraltar as well as defended Azad Kashmir.

Later Major Munawar was awarded "Sitara e Jurat" for gallantry and the title of "King of Rajouri" by President Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan.