The IdeaI of Pakistan

7th and Early 8th Century

Arrival of Muslim traders, missionaries, and armies in South Asia.

660 CE

Caliph Umar sends the first Arab expedition to Sindh.

711 CE

Muhammad bin Qasim conquers Sindh, initiating the spread of Islam.

1000s - Early 11th Century

Muslim invaders enter northwestern India, followed by the Mongols in the 13th century.

1026 CE

Mahmud of Ghazni plunders Somnath, destroying temples and attacking the Hindu social system (as per Al-Biruni's writings).

1100 CE

Several Hindu-Muslim states are established in northern and northwestern India.

1290 CE

Almost all of India comes under the rule of independent Muslim rulers.

1500s - Early 16th century

The Mughal Empire is established.

1556

1707 CE: The Mughal Empire reaches its peak power.

1833 CE

Control of India is transferred from the East India Company to Whitehall (British government).

1856 - Annexation of Awadh

The princely state of Awadh is annexed to British India.

Indian Rebellion of 1857

A major uprising occurs in India, leading to the end of Company rule and Mughal authority.

1858 - British Raj Begins

Britain formally dissolves the Mughal Empire and begins direct rule over India (British Raj).

1875 - Aligarh Muslim University Founded

Aligarh Muslim University is established.

1889 - Ahmadiyya Movement Founded

The Ahmadiyya movement is founded in Qadian, Punjab.

1905

Muhammad Ali Jinnah joins the Indian National Congress.

1906

The Muslim League is established.

1920

Muslims and Hindus become more involved in 'myth-making', and Muslim missionary groups like Tablighi Jama'at are formed.

1929 onwards

The Indian National Congress demands an independent India.

1930

Muhammad Iqbal, a Punjabi poet-politician, proposes the idea of a separate Muslim state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah withdraws from active politics and moves to London.

1933

A group of Indian students in Cambridge propose that the separate Muslim state be named 'Pakistan'.

1934

Muhammad Ali Jinnah returns to India to revive the Muslim League.

1935

Maududi, after traveling with a prominent Hindu politician, becomes convinced that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together.

1940 (March 23)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League, at the Lahore session, declare support for the idea of Pakistan, and the Lahore Resolution is passed.

1941 (August 26)

Maulana Maududi establishes Jama'at-i-Islami.

1945

Jama'at-i-Islami does not participate in local elections.

1946

Negotiations between Britain, the Indian National Congress, and the Muslim League lead to the decision to partition India.

February 1947

The student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Jami'at Tulabah, is officially formed.

June 3, 1947

Britain's plan to partition the Indian subcontinent into two territories - India and Pakistan - is announced.

August 14, 1947

The country of Pakistan is established. Bengal and Punjab are divided, leading to mass population migration.

Late 1947

The Pakistani army begins its first military engagement in Kashmir.

1948

The first 'small wars' occur between the Baloch and Pakistani forces (lasting several months).

1948 (13 January)

Gandhi goes on a hunger strike to protest India's seizure of Pakistani assets and Hindu and Sikh attacks on Muslims in India.

1948 (11 September)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah dies of tuberculosis.

1948 - First Indo-Pakistani War

The first war between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir begins.

1949 - UN Ceasefire in Kashmir

The United Nations enforces a ceasefire in Kashmir, leaving about three-quarters of the state under Indian control.

1949 - Objectives Resolution Passed

The Objectives Resolution is passed by the Constituent Assembly.

1951 - Rawalpindi Conspiracy

The Rawalpindi Conspiracy occurs, an unsuccessful coup attempt by junior officers.

1951 - Assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan

Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, is assassinated at a political rally in Rawalpindi.

1951

31 scholars present an Islamization plan to the Pakistani government (becomes the manifesto of Jamaat-e-Islami).

1952

Language riots occur in East Bengal.

1954

The Muslim League declines. Four provinces of West Pakistan merge under the 'One-Unit' scheme.

1954 (October 28)

Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad orders Constituent Assembly members to be barred from meeting in Karachi, seen as undermining democracy in Pakistan.

1954

Pakistan signs a mutual defense agreement with the United States and joins the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

1955

Pakistan joins the Baghdad Pact (later known as CENTO).

1956 (March 23)

The Constituent Assembly passes the first constitution, renaming the country to the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan." Iskander Mirza becomes President.

1958

The second "minor conflict" occurs between the Baloch and Pakistani forces, lasting several months.

1958 (October 7)

Iskander Mirza abrogates the constitution.

1958

General Ayub Khan overthrows Iskander Mirza in a coup, initiating a long period of military rule in Pakistan.

1959

The first land reforms are implemented, focusing on abolishing tax-free land ownership (jagirs).

April 12, 1959

Ayub Khan presents a nine-point plan for the 'Ideology of Islam' in a private note.

February 17, 1960

Ayub Khan becomes President after winning 80% in a referendum.

1960

Ayub Khan signs the Indus Waters Treaty with India.

1962

A new constitution is announced by Ayub Khan, creating a stronger presidency and a system of 'Basic Democracies'. The India-China war begins.

1962

The third Balochistan civil war begins and continues until 1968.

1965 (September 6 to 22)

A full-scale war with India over Kashmir occurs.

1965

Maududi is imprisoned for supporting Fatima Jinnah in the presidential election.

1967 (December)

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto establishes the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

1968

Economist Mahbub ul Haq announces that 22 families control 66% of the country's economy, symbolizing economic inequality.

March 1969

Ayub Khan resigns and General Yahya Khan takes power.

1969

1971: Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) participates in paramilitary operations in East Pakistan under the guidance of the Pakistan Army.

1970

The first free national elections are held in Pakistan, and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) wins in West Pakistan.

1970

1971: The Pakistan Army uses Islamic militias to intimidate, torture, and kill Bengali intellectuals and politicians.

December 1971

The Pakistan Army is defeated in the East, and over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers surrender. East Pakistan becomes the independent country of Bangladesh. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto becomes the leader of the remaining Pakistan.

1972 Land Reform

The second land reform reduces the land ownership ceiling by 70%.

July 1972

Bhutto signs a peace treaty with Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, in Simla, and Pakistani prisoners of war are returned.

1972

Bhutto's government nationalizes private schools.

1972

A coalition of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and the National Awami Party (NAP) takes power in Balochistan and the North-West Frontier Province.

April 10, 1973

A new constitution is passed by the parliament, making Bhutto the Prime Minister with full executive powers.

1973

1975: The fourth and bloodiest Balochistan civil war occurs, initiated by Bhutto's dismissal of local administrators. The Pakistani army and paramilitary forces launch a full-scale military operation.

1974

The Parliament of Pakistan declares Ahmadis as non-Muslims.

1974

The War Inquiry Commission report on the 1971 defeat is submitted to the government (but is never officially published).

1976

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto appoints Zia-ul-Haq as Chief of Army Staff.

1977

The land ownership ceiling is further reduced in the third land reform.

1977 (March)

The Pakistan People's Party wins an election suspected of widespread rigging. The Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) takes to the streets, demanding military intervention.

1977 (July 5)

General Zia-ul-Haq stages a coup, removing Bhutto and the Pakistan People's Party from power. Bhutto is arrested.

1977

Bhutto enforces a ban on alcohol.

1978

A Mohajir student organization is founded.

1979 (April 4)

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is hanged in Rawalpindi after being convicted of conspiracy to murder.

1979 (Late)

The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan.

1980 (April)

The Orangi Pilot Project is established in Karachi.

1980

1989: Extensive efforts by the US and Pakistan to overthrow the communist regime in Kabul and force Soviet troops to withdraw from Afghanistan.

1981

The Movement for the Restoration of Democracy is formed. The University Grants Commission issues guidelines for textbook authors based on Pakistan's ideology.

1984

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is established as a political party for migrants. A small operation is conducted to support Sikh separatists in India.

1985

Zia-ul-Haq allows non-party elections and martial law is lifted by the end of the year. The banking system moves towards profit and loss sharing (PLS). Mahbub ul Haq is appointed as Finance Minister and begins economic reforms.

January 1986

Mahbub ul Haq is removed from the Ministry of Finance.

1986

Benazir Bhutto returns to Pakistan to take leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

1987

The number of religious schools (madrasas) in Pakistan increases to 3,000.

1987

A series of crises between India and Pakistan begins.

May 1988

Zia-ul-Haq dismisses his Prime Minister, Muhammad Khan Junejo.

August 1988

Mahbub ul Haq returns as Finance Minister in the interim government and initiates revenue system reforms.

August 17, 1988

Zia-ul-Haq dies in an unexplained air crash.

1988

Benazir Bhutto comes to power for the first time.

1989

A major uprising begins in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Al-Qaeda is founded in Afghanistan.

1990

Pakistan likely produces a deployable nuclear bomb. Benazir Bhutto is removed from the prime ministership.

1991

1993: Asif Nawaz Janjua, the army chief, gradually pushes back political Islam in the military.

1992

Abdul Qadeer Khan's role in Pakistan's nuclear program is revealed, and a 'cult of personality' forms around him.

1992

The demolition of the Babri Mosque in India leads to sectarian riots and attacks on Hindu temples and Christian churches in the subcontinent.

March 1993

Muhammad Khan Junejo passed away.

Mid 1993

The interim government of Moeen Qureshi implements IMF revenue-boosting policies. Benazir Bhutto returns to power for the second time.

Post 1993

Summer workshops on South Asian security issues are held.

1995

A failed coup by an Islamist general and several junior officers.

1995

The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is established as an educational NGO.

1997

Prime Ministerial power is restored by Nawaz Sharif.

March 1997

Nawaz Sharif comes to power for the second time.

1998

Pakistan's economic growth falls to 2.6%.

1998

Pakistan conducts nuclear tests.

February 1999

Nawaz Sharif meets Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lahore.

July 4, 1999

Nawaz Sharif meets Bill Clinton and orders withdrawal from Kargil on his advice.

October 1999

General Pervez Musharraf, the army chief, dismisses Nawaz Sharif's civilian government and becomes 'Chief Executive'. Shaukat Aziz is appointed as Musharraf's finance advisor.

2000

Pakistan's economic growth returns to 4.3%.

October 2000

The military exiles Nawaz Sharif and his family to Saudi Arabia.

2001 - September 11 Attacks

Terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center transform US-Pakistan relations.

2001 - UN Suggests Tourism Policy Review

The United Nations suggests Pakistan review its tourism policy.

2002 - Musharraf's Vision for Pakistan

In a televised speech, Musharraf declares Pakistan's goal to become a moderate Islamic state.

2002 - Musharraf's Military Referendum

Musharraf holds a national referendum on military rule and wins with 98% of the vote.

October 2002

National and provincial elections are held. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a coalition of six Islamic parties, wins 62 seats in the National Assembly (17% of the vote). The Tablighi Jamaat publicly supports the MMA.

2002

The report of the 1971 War Inquiry Commission is officially released. Foreign direct investment increases to $795 million.

2002

2003: The MMA government in the NWFP initiates Islamist programs. Pakistan's education budget increases by nearly 80%.

March 2003

Qazi Hussain Ahmed delivers a speech at a conference at the Brookings Institution.

June 2003

Shaukat Aziz is introduced as Prime Minister.

August 2003

Several Pakistani soldiers are accidentally killed by American forces at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

November 2003

A Pakistani suspected of Taliban/Al-Qaeda membership is released from Guantanamo.

December 2003

Musharraf pledges to step down from the military by the end of 2004.

January 2004

Musharraf announces that UN resolutions on Kashmir may be set aside if progress is made in resolving the issue. A US task force recommends appointing a high-level official to assist in India-Pakistan dialogue on Kashmir.

May 2004

Shahbaz Sharif (Nawaz's brother) is deported from Pakistan while flying to Lahore.