The twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch fall in the Pir Panchal belt of Jammu province. This is an important mountainous range which separates the valley of Kashmir from Jammu province. Stein, the well-regarded commentator on Raj Tarangini described the Pir Panchal track as a region located between the rivers Jehlum and Chenab in the southern and south-western slopes of this region, which starts from Banihal Pass and comprises Rajouri, Budhal, and Poonch on the Indian side of the LoC and Kotli, Rawalakote and Bagh on the other side of the LoC. The 223km-long LoC touches the boundaries of Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri, and Manjakote blocks of Rajouri district, and Balakote, Mendhar, Poonch, and Mandi blocks of Poonch district. Presently, these twin districts of the Pir Panchal track, are comprised of one municipal council at Poonch, six notified area committees, 13 community development blocks and 563 villages.

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