Islamic Republic of Pakistan

State · 1947–2026 CE · at its largest around 1948 CE

A South Asian state created at the partition of British India in 1947 as a homeland for Muslims, under Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Its eastern wing seceded as Bangladesh in 1971, and it has alternated between civilian and military rule.

On its lands while it lasted

British Raj (1858–1947 CE): After the 1857 rebellion the British Crown took direct rule of India from the East India Company, governing until independence in 1947.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 CE – 1948 CE): Leader of the Indian independence movement who developed nonviolent mass civil disobedience (satyagraha).
Vallabhbhai Patel (1875 CE – 1950 CE): Independence leader and India's first deputy prime minister, who oversaw the integration of the princely states.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876 CE – 1948 CE): Leader of the All-India Muslim League and founder of Pakistan, its first Governor-General.
Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 CE – 1964 CE): Leader in the independence movement and first prime minister of India, serving from 1947 until his death.
Independence of India (1947 CE): India became independent on 15 August 1947, with Jawaharlal Nehru as its first prime minister.
Partition of India (1947 CE): British India was divided into India and Pakistan in August 1947, followed by communal violence and the displacement of some 15 million people.
Constitution of India (1950 CE): India's constitution, drafted by a committee chaired by B. R. Ambedkar, came into force on 26 January 1950, making India a republic.
First ascent of Mount Everest (1953 CE): Members of the British expedition, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal, reached the summit of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953, the first confirmed ascent.
1970 Bhola cyclone (1970 CE): Tropical cyclone that struck East Pakistan in November 1970, killing an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people, one of the deadliest on record.
Bangladesh Liberation War (1971 CE): War in which East Pakistan, with Indian intervention, won independence from Pakistan as Bangladesh.
Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989 CE): Soviet intervention in Afghanistan against mujahideen insurgents backed by the United States, Pakistan and others; Soviet troops withdrew in 1989.
Bhopal disaster (1984 CE): Gas leak of methyl isocyanate from a pesticide plant in Bhopal that killed thousands, among the worst industrial disasters in history.
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) (2001–2021 CE): US-led invasion after the September 11 attacks that toppled the Taliban, followed by a long insurgency until the US withdrawal in 2021.
Fall of Kabul (2021 CE): The Taliban captured Kabul on 15 August 2021 as US-led forces withdrew, returning to power in Afghanistan.