History of Pakistan

One of the oldest civilizations in the world, the Indus Valley civilization flourished over 5,000 years ago in most areas now in Pakistan. Fossilized remains of Stone Age man have also been discovered in the Chakwal district of the Punjab province of Pakistan. Greeks, Persians, Afghans, Turks, Scythians and armies from Central Asian Countries invaded India-Pakistan over the centuries. Invasion by the Arabs brought Islam to the region, which expanded during the Mughal Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. The British ruled the region during the 18th century and when they were being forced to leave they divided India in 1947 into two independent countries India and Pakistan. India, Pakistan have never enjoyed good neighborly relations and have fought two wars in 1965 and 1971. The 1971 war resulted in the breaking away of East Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh. Both India and Pakistan got involved in a nuclear arms race with India testing its nuclear weapons and Pakistan retaliating with its own tests in 1998. Since the 2008 Mumbai terrorists attacks India-Pakistan relations dropped to rock bottom and only recently some small steps have been taking in bettering relationship.

Pakistan is bordered by India on the East, China in the North, Iran and Afghanistan to the west and the Arabian Sea towards the South. Pakistan is a country of contrasts in terms of geography and people. Some of the highest peaks in the Himalayan Range, Nanga Parbat and K-2 are in the northern areas of Pakistan. Towards the south major areas of Sindh and Baluchistan are deserts. The major agricultural areas of Pakistan are on the banks of the rivers that feed into the Indus. Cotton, sugar cane, rice and wheat are the major crops grown in Pakistan.

There are predominantly five ethnic races in Pakistan, which are; Punjabi, Pathans, Sindhi, Balochis and the Mohajirs. Their languages are radically different and so are their hereditary backgrounds. They are bound together as a nation and by religion. The people of Pakistan by nature are friendly and hospitable. Even Angelina Jolie commented on the warm hospitality of the people when she visited flood victims camps during the devastating floods of 2010.

Whether you visit Pakistan as a tourist or on business, the visit will remain firmly etched in your memory.