Far East Kingdoms

Modern Pakistan
AD 1947 - Present Day

The republic of Pakistan was formed on 14 August 1947 following the official handover of power in India by the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the west by Iran, to the north-west by the long and mountainous border with Afghanistan, to the north by China, and to the east by India.

The country forms a north-south ribbon of territory which is focussed on the Indus Valley, home to India's first civilisation. Between that period and the modern age, it has for the most part been a patchwork of kingdoms, principalities and minor states, all vying for control with one another.

The modern republic was formed through a Direct Action day, which was called in 1947 by the Muslim parties in India (led by Muhammed Ali Jinnah) who demanded a separate homeland for Muslims. Hindus and Sikhs were massacred in Muslim-dominated areas, leading to a bloody Hindu retaliation. Largescale riots followed and the decision was taken to partition India and create Pakistan as a homeland for Muslims in former north-western India. The new country also gained the east of Bengal, which was named East Pakistan.

(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha.)

1947 - 1948

Mohammad Ali Jinnah

Governor-general of Pakistan.

1949

Pakistani militia is repulsed by the Indian army, but due to UN intervention part of Kashmir remains occupied by Pakistan, which it names Azad Kashmir while India refers to it as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The UN asks for a plebiscite in the disputed area. Pakistan does not vacate the part of Kashmir it has occupied, so a plebiscite never takes place. Pakistan becomes an Islamic republic in 1950.

The partition of India and Pakistan caused misery for millions and a mass population movement in both directions

1951

The prime minister, Liaqat Ali Khan, is assassinated.

1955 - 1956

Iskander Mirza

Governor-general of Pakistan.

1956

Pakistan adopts a constitution which remains effective today.

1958

General Ayub Khan assumes command of the country after a military coup, becoming a military dictator.

1958 - 1969

Ayub Khan

Military dictator.

1965

Pakistan again attacks India over Kashmir, but is beaten back on several fronts. With Soviet mediation Pakistan agrees to call off the attack.

1969

General Ayub Khan resigns. General Yahya Khan assumes the presidency and declares martial law. Amidst a new Cold War equation, Pakistan (along with China) becomes a US ally as India turns to the Soviet Union for military assistance.

1969 - 1973

Yahya Khan

Military president.

1971

An attempt at the genocide of the Bengali-speaking Muslims of East Pakistan is made by the Punjabi-dominated army of West Pakistan. A largescale exodus of East Pakistanis into India is triggered, leading to a humanitarian crisis. India intervenes and assists the Bengali revolutionary group, Mukti Bahini, which is led by Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Pakistan launches a pre-emptive strike on eleven Indian airbases, starting the Indo-Pakistan War. The war lasts just thirteen days. Following this, East Pakistan secedes from West Pakistan to become Bangladesh.

1972

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto becomes prime minister. He signs the Shimla Agreement with India.

1977

General Zia ul Haq launches a military coup, overthrowing Prime Minister Bhutto, who is hanged in 1979. Zia assumes command of Pakistan.

1977 - 1988

Zia ul Haq

Military dictator. Killed in plane crash. Assassination suspected.

1979

An Islamic penal code is established by Zia and Islamic Wahabi fundamentalism is encouraged. The country sees the birth of Pan-Islamism as Jihadi Mujahideen (warriors willing to martyr themselves for their faith) are recruited from all over the world (with US help) to overthrow the Soviet-sponsored Communist government in Afghanistan. India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorism in Punjab.

1988 - 1990

When General Zia ul Haq meets an untimely end in a plane crash, Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, becomes prime minister, only to be dismissed by the new president in 1990 (she returns in 1993-1996). Nawaz Sharif leads the new government, and it enforces Islamic Shariah law in 1991. India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir.

1998 - 1999

India conducts nuclear tests amidst reports of a secret Pakistani nuclear programme which is supported by the Chinese. The following year, Pakistan launches an operation in Kargil (supposedly to internationalise the issue of Kashmir) after its soldiers occupy some unmanned border posts disguised as irregulars. The Indian army successfully repulses the attacks and reoccupies the posts. The USA intervenes (fearing an escalation of the conflict between two nuclear powers) and Pakistan is compelled to call back its men.

1999

Nawaz Sharif, returned to office in 1996, is overthrown in a military coup by General Pervez Musharraf, who then assumes command of the country. Both Bhutto and Sharif are exiled.

1999 - 2009

Pervez Musharraf

Military dictator.

2001

The US seeks logistical support from Pakistan in its 'war against terror' in Afghanistan. Pakistan has to turn against its long term allies, the Taliban, in order to appease the US, but is accused of playing a double game by many international agencies. US pressure on Musharraf forces him to crack down on a section of Islamic militants. There is largescale opposition within Pakistan against Musharraf and the US in light of their perceived anti-Islamic policies.

2007

Musharraf declares a state of emergency but has to retract it amidst international and local pressure. In the same year, Benazir Bhutto returns to Pakistan, allegedly with support from the US, in order that she can contest elections. She is assassinated while being transported in her motorcade.

2008

Pakistan is generally accepted to be the source of a terrorist attack on the Indian city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay). Islamic terrorists rampage through the city, killing hundreds of people including several foreign nationals (US and Israeli citizens are singled out for murder). The Pakistani state is accused of sponsoring the terrorists, all but one of which are killed.

2009

Musharraf is forced to resign by the Supreme Court after a mass movement of lawyers, long a target of Musharraf's, together with public pressure finally takes its toll on the general. Benazir's controversial husband, Zardari, becomes president and Gilani the prime minister, although the international community and worldwide media still allege that the main power in Pakistan lies with General Kiyani and the army.

2009 - Present

Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani

Unproven military power behind the 'throne'.

2010

Massive floods in Pakistan kill or displace millions. In the same year, long-time ally China announces that it will set up nuclear stations in Pakistan similar to those of the India-US civilian nuclear deal amidst international condemnation considering Pakistan's nuclear proliferation record.

The floods in Pakistan in 2010 displaced millions of people and starvation was a very real threat for many of the survivors