[3] The city of Kotli dates back to the twelfth century, when it was settled by a branch of the Royal Mangral family of Kashmir, descendants of Raja Mangar Pal.

Kotli remained as a semi-auntonomous state until it was finally subdued by Ranjit Singh in 1819 and incorporated into the Sikh Empire.

[4] After the independence of Pakistan and India from the British rule, "bands of deserters from the State Army, some serving soldiers of the Pakistan Army on leave, ex-servicemen, and other volunteers who had risen spontaneously"[5] reached Kotli in November 1947.

India then sent its armed forces to Kashmir where they attacked Kotli in an attempt to recapture it.

The Pakistan Army counter-attacked with the aid of the native tribesmen, winning a decisive victory in the Battle of Kotli.