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On August 1947 PaKiStan became independent - the name consists of P for Punjab, K for Kashmir and S for Sindh. There was another part not mentioned in the name, (East) Bengal, separated from West Pakistan by 1600 km of Indian territory. While the political center - capital Karachi (later Rawalpindi, then Islamabad) and the economic centers (Karachi, Lahore) all are located in the west, the majority of the population lived in East Bengal.
Immediately after independence, Pakistan had to deal with a massive refugee problem : while 5.3 million Hindus fled from Punjab and Sindh into India, 5.9 million Muslims fled from India into West Pakistan. 3.3 million Hindus fled East Pakistan, 1.3 million Muslims fled from India into East Pakistan.
Another problem was formed by the 500+ Indian principalities who had been 'indirectly' ruled by Britain. Both India and Pakistan granted them to opt for either of them. While this went through without major complication in most cases, for instance BAHAWALPUR was integrated into Pakistan's province of Punjab, the case of KASHMIR was complex. The vast majority of Kashmir was and is Muslim; the fathers of Pakistan therefore counted on it forming a central element of the new state. However, the Rajah of Jammu and Kashmir, a Hindu, opted for India. The FIRST INDO-PAKISTANI WAR of 1948 was fought over the issue; the result was that Kashmir was partitioned, the smaller western part being held by Pakistan, the larger eastern and central part held by India.
MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH, the founder of Pakistan and the country's first president, died in 1948, even before the brief war. His successor LIAQUAT ALI KHAN was assassinated in 1951. The government was moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi. In 1956 Pakistan was declared an ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. In 1958 the enclave of GWADAR (hitherto belonging to Oman) was annexed. After a military coup d'etat in 1958, Gen. AYYUB KHAN assumed the presidency. He implemented a LAND REFORM and heavily increased state subsidies to East Pakistan. In 1965 the SECOND INDO-PAKISTANI WAR was fought; relations deescalated after the TASHKENT AGREEMENT of 1966, mediated by the USSR.
Immediately after independence, Pakistan had to deal with a massive refugee problem : while 5.3 million Hindus fled from Punjab and Sindh into India, 5.9 million Muslims fled from India into West Pakistan. 3.3 million Hindus fled East Pakistan, 1.3 million Muslims fled from India into East Pakistan.
Another problem was formed by the 500+ Indian principalities who had been 'indirectly' ruled by Britain. Both India and Pakistan granted them to opt for either of them. While this went through without major complication in most cases, for instance BAHAWALPUR was integrated into Pakistan's province of Punjab, the case of KASHMIR was complex. The vast majority of Kashmir was and is Muslim; the fathers of Pakistan therefore counted on it forming a central element of the new state. However, the Rajah of Jammu and Kashmir, a Hindu, opted for India. The FIRST INDO-PAKISTANI WAR of 1948 was fought over the issue; the result was that Kashmir was partitioned, the smaller western part being held by Pakistan, the larger eastern and central part held by India.
MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH, the founder of Pakistan and the country's first president, died in 1948, even before the brief war. His successor LIAQUAT ALI KHAN was assassinated in 1951. The government was moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi. In 1956 Pakistan was declared an ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. In 1958 the enclave of GWADAR (hitherto belonging to Oman) was annexed. After a military coup d'etat in 1958, Gen. AYYUB KHAN assumed the presidency. He implemented a LAND REFORM and heavily increased state subsidies to East Pakistan. In 1965 the SECOND INDO-PAKISTANI WAR was fought; relations deescalated after the TASHKENT AGREEMENT of 1966, mediated by the USSR.