Pakistan and American Diplomacy

1948

Afghanistan protested Pakistan's claim over Pashtun territories; Pakistan hosted the West Indies team, the first Test-playing team to visit after independence.

1950

The United States and Pakistan form an alliance, with Washington strengthening Pakistan's military.

Early 1950s

The United States rapidly strengthened Pakistan's military to act as a bulwark against Soviet expansionism.

1952

Pakistan became a full member of the ICC; Pakistan played its first international Test series in India and won in Lucknow.

1955

Pakistan played its first home Test in Dhaka (now Bangladesh) against India, which ended in a draw.

1956

An English team kidnapped Pakistani players in Peshawar.

1958

Pakistan toured the West Indies and Hanif Mohammad scored a record 337 runs.

1963

Pakistan ceded part of the high Karakoram mountains to China to revive strategic relations.

1968

Sports sanctions against South Africa began due to apartheid, lasting 22 years.

1969

Pro-democracy protests against Ayub Khan's military government began across Pakistan; the UK Foreign Office pressured the MCC to tour troubled East Pakistan.

February 1971

Bengali nationalist rival, Pakistani opponent Roquibul Hassan, plays in Dhaka with a map of future Bangladesh on his bat.

December 1971

Bangladesh gains independence from Pakistan after the defeat of the Pakistani army and intervention by the Indian army.

1972

1977: Abdul Hafeez Kardar served as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

1975

West Indies won the first Cricket World Cup; Pakistan's team visited there for the first time after Bangladesh's independence.

Late 1970s and 1980s

The West Indies team dominated Test and ODI cricket.

1979

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan; West Indies won the second Cricket World Cup.

1981

ICC admitted Sri Lanka as a Test member; Imran Khan transformed from a swing bowler to an aggressive fast bowler.

1983

India shocked the cricket world by winning the third Cricket World Cup.

1989

The Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan, and the United States left Pakistan to its own devices.

1990

India abandoned its role as peacekeeper in Sri Lanka.

1992

Pakistan, led by Imran Khan, won the Cricket World Cup; South Africa made its first World Cup appearance after the end of apartheid.

1995

Afghanistan established its national cricket team in Pakistan.

1996

Sri Lanka won the Cricket World Cup.

1998 (May)

India detonated a nuclear bomb, followed by Pakistan detonating five bombs.

1999

Pervez Musharraf's military coup against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan; Bangladesh achieved Test cricket status and participated in its first Cricket World Cup.

2000

2001: A leaked version of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report (on the 1971 war) was published.

2001 (May)

The United States killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

2001 (9/11)

Terrorist attacks in the United States followed by the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

2002

James Harris was elected as the chairman of the South African Cricket Board.

2002

2003: Pakistani security forces launched operations against Al-Qaeda remnants in northwest Pakistan.

2003

The Cricket World Cup was held in South Africa, and India defeated Pakistan.

2006

An insurgency in Balochistan began following the killing of prominent tribal leader Bugti in a military operation.

2007

The Pakistani government attacked the Red Mosque; the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was formed from Pashtun tribal resistance in Pakistan.

2007 (December)

Benazir Bhutto, the prime minister candidate, was assassinated in Rawalpindi.

2008 (March)

A major truck bombing at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad killed 54 people.

2008 (December)

Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out multiple terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.

2008

Musharraf resigned from the presidency, and civilian government returned to power.

2008

2013: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) governed with heavy military influence.

2009

Sri Lanka ended the civil war against the Tamil Tigers (LTTE); The Kerry-Lugar Bill funded Pakistan with $1.5 billion annually in military and economic aid, but imposed conditions on civilian control over the Pakistani military.

2009 (March)

Gunmen attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, resulting in 8 deaths and 5 players injured.

2010

Richard Holbrooke was appointed as the senior U.S. diplomat in Afghanistan; Devastating floods occurred in the Indus River in Pakistan.

2011 (January)

Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, was assassinated for supporting a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.

2011 (March)

Shahbaz Bhatti, Minister of Minority Affairs and a Christian, was assassinated for supporting religious freedom.

May 2011

The United States killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan; the Pakistani military launched a campaign to arrest Pakistanis who had helped the US locate bin Laden.

Late 2011

The "Salala incident" occurred when NATO forces attacked two Pakistani military posts near the Afghan border, resulting in the deaths of 28 Pakistani soldiers.

2013

Pakistan experienced its first civilian transfer of power at the end of a full government term from PPP to PML-N.

Early 2014

Imran Khan launched widespread protests against the PML-N government.

January 2014

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan executed two dozen captive soldiers.

June 2014

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan attacked Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, killing 36 people.

December 2014

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan attacked an army public school near Peshawar, killing 149 children and teachers.

2015

Afghanistan qualified for the Cricket World Cup for the first time.

2016

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was formed.

2016 (April)

The Panama Papers revealed Nawaz Sharif and his children’s involvement in large bank accounts and expensive foreign properties.

2016 (August)

Four militants attacked an Indian Army base in Uri.

2017

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) began protests to block roads against changes in the oath of office.

2017 (July)

Pakistan's Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif from politics over corruption evidence.

2017 (August)

Imran Khan called the Pakistan cricket team 'cornered tigers' in a famous speech.

2018 (January)

The murder of a Pashtun shopkeeper in Karachi led to the formation of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).

2018 (January)

President Trump halted US aid to Pakistan citing 'lies and deceit' regarding Afghanistan.

2018 (July)

Pakistan's national elections saw Imran Khan's victory, with significant involvement from the military.

August 2018

The US Embassy congratulated Imran Khan, the elected Prime Minister.

August 2018

India revoked Kashmir's special autonomy under its constitution; Pakistan increased condemnations and expelled the Indian High Commissioner.

October 2018

The Supreme Court of Pakistan overturned Asia Bibi's conviction.

November 2018

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the Chinese consulate in Karachi.

March 2019

A white nationalist-inspired attacker killed 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

2019 - Attack on Pearl Continental Hotel

BLA attacked the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar.

PTM MP Accused of Inciting Violence

A PTM-affiliated MP was accused of inciting violence during a May 2019 protest where security forces killed 13 protesters.

2019 - Pakistan's Defeat Against West Indies

Pakistan suffered a disastrous defeat against the West Indies in the Cricket World Cup.

2019 - Pakistan's Victory Over England

Pakistan won against England in the Cricket World Cup.

2019 - Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Match Canceled

The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match in the Cricket World Cup was canceled due to rain.

2019 (June)

Pakistan lost to Australia in the Cricket World Cup.

2019 (June)

Pakistan lost to India in the Cricket World Cup.

2019 (June)

Pakistan won against South Africa in the Cricket World Cup.

2019 (June)

Pakistan won against New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup.

2019 (June)

Pakistan won against Afghanistan in the Cricket World Cup.

July 2019

Imran Khan made his first official visit to Washington as Prime Minister.

July 2019

President Trump stated that the Indian Prime Minister asked the US to mediate in Kashmir.

July 2019

Pakistan won its last Cricket World Cup match against Bangladesh but did not reach the semi-finals.

July 2019

Pakistan released Asia Bibi.

December 2019

Sri Lanka returned to Pakistan for the first international test match since 2009.

2019 (December)

Pakistan and China announced that the second phase of CPEC (CPEC 2.0) will focus on industrialization, agriculture, and socio-economic development.

2020

The crash of PIA flight in Karachi resulted in 97 deaths; Pakistan's aviation minister announced that nearly one-third of Pakistani pilots have fake licenses.

2020 (July)

Tahir Naseem, a Pakistani-American accused of blasphemy, was killed in a courtroom in Peshawar.

2020 (August)

Anti-Shia terrorism intensified in Pakistan.

2021 (Early Year)

The Pakistani government banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and arrested its leader.

August 2021

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

October 2021

Imran Khan delayed approving the military appointment to replace Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed as ISI chief.

Late 2021

TTP attacks increased in Pakistan's border areas.

Early 2022

Pakistan continued its accusations against India even after Indian diplomats left Afghanistan.

April 2022

Imran Khan was removed from the position of Prime Minister.

October 2022

Attempted assassination of Imran Khan.

November 2022

General Bajwa retired as Army Chief, and General Asim Munir was appointed by Prime Minister Sharif.

2023

India will host the Cricket World Cup, the first time without a South Asian co-host.