Pakistan Beyond The Crisis State

Circa 1850

The emergence of Muslim individual identity and Islamic community in South Asia.

1857

The Mughal Empire, after six great emperors (from Babur to Aurangzeb), was dismantled by the British.

1940

The Muslim League Resolution, demanding autonomy or independent states for Muslim-majority areas.

1941

Abul A'la Maududi founded Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

1946

Bernard Brodie called nuclear weapons "absolute weapons."

1947

May 14: A letter from G. H. Hidayatullah, Sindhi leader, to Jinnah about the need to curb provincialism.

August 11, 1947 - August 11

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his first speech to Pakistan's Constituent Assembly, presented his vision for a progressive, just, and impartial state.

August 14, 1947 - August 14

Official ceremony of power transfer to Pakistan; Lord Mountbatten suggested Emperor Akbar as a model of a tolerant Muslim ruler to Jinnah, but Jinnah introduced the Prophet of Islam as a more enduring and inspiring model.

October 1947 - October

Muslims in West Punjab began reacting to horrific stories from India.

December 1947 - December

Jinnah spent his first and only Christmas as a guest of the Christian community.

1947 - Start of the Kashmir War

The Pakistani army used jihad to mobilize tribes for an attack on Kashmir.

1948 - Jinnah's Speech to the USA

February: Muhammad Ali Jinnah recorded his speech for the people of the USA, declaring that Pakistan would not be a theocratic state.

September 1948 - Death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah

The death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

1949 - Adoption of Objectives Resolution

The resolution outlined the principles of Pakistan's future constitution with an emphasis on Islam.

February 1950 - Issuance of the Warrant of Precedence

The Ministry of Interior issued the Warrant of Precedence, specifying the ranking of civil and military officials for ceremonial purposes.

Emergence of Provincial and Linguistic Differences

Particularly concerning Urdu as the sole national language, leading to tensions.

1953 Protests

Street protests led by Islamic parties demanding Ahmadis be declared non-Muslims.

1954 - Munir Report Issued

Warned of ideological dangers and the lack of a state-defined Islam.

1956 Political Developments

Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy briefly served as Prime Minister, emphasizing national identity based on public consent.

1958 Military Coup

Military coup led by General Ayub Khan, marking the start of martial law.

1959

1971: The Pakistan Army governed the country.

1960

Ayub Khan expressed his intent to clarify Pakistan's ideology, defining Islam as its core.

1965

India-Pakistan War.

January 1966

Signing of the Tashkent Agreement, a peace effort after the 1965 war.

1967

1972: Shuja Nawaz worked as a broadcaster and producer for Pakistan Television, covering the 1971 war with India.

1969 - Yahya Khan's Succession

General Yahya Khan succeeded General Ayub Khan.

1970 - First Free Elections

The first free and fair elections were held in Pakistan.

1971 - Bangladesh Liberation

A crushing military defeat by India led to the secession of East Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh, weakening the 'Two-Nation Theory' and deeply impacting Pakistan's psyche.

1971 - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's Rule

1977: The rule of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

1972 - Simla Agreement

July 2: Signing of the Simla Agreement, a framework for normalizing relations between India and Pakistan.

1973

August 27: The Delhi Agreement on prisoners of war was signed.

Adoption of the 1973 Constitution, a consensus document ensuring provincial autonomy.

February 1974

Pakistan hosted the second Islamic Conference Organization summit in Lahore and recognized Bangladesh.

1974

India conducted its "Peaceful Nuclear Explosion" test.

1976

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto invited the Imams of Masjid al-Nabawi and Kaaba to Pakistan to enhance his Islamic credentials.

1977

General Zia-ul-Haq ousted Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and began the longest period of military dictatorship.

1977

1988: General Zia-ul-Haq's rule.

1978

April 14: Signing of the Delhi Agreement on the Salal Hydroelectric Project.

1979

Islamic Revolution in Iran.

1980

1985: Maleeha Lodhi taught politics and political sociology at the London School of Economics.

Early 1980s

Four international oil companies were licensed to explore in Pakistan, but one major oil company halted its operations.

1980

Dr. Mikal Ahmad received his PhD in Economics from the University of Oxford.

1981

Adult literacy rate in Pakistan was 26%.

1985

"The Sole Spokesman: Jinnah, the Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan" by Ayesha Jalal was published.

Muhammad Khan Junejo as Leader of Pakistan Muslim League (PML

N) came to power.

1985

1988: Muhammad Khan Junejo's government.

1988

December 31: Cultural cooperation agreement between India and Pakistan was signed.

December 31

The agreement to prohibit attacks on nuclear facilities between India and Pakistan was implemented.

1988

1999: A period of democracy in Pakistan, alternating between the governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

1989

Mikal Ahmad was appointed by the Government of Pakistan as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at the IMF in Washington D.C.

1990

The book "The State of Martial Rule: The Origins of Pakistan's Political Economy of Defence" by Ayesha Jalal was published.

1991

The net enrollment rate in primary schools was 33 percent.

April 6, 1991 - April 6

The Delhi Agreement on prior notification of military exercises and troop movements was implemented.

1992

August 17: The Delhi Agreement on preventing airspace violations and flight rights was implemented.

1993

Maleeha Lodhi served as Pakistan's ambassador to the USA for the first time (until 1996).

1997 - "Jinnah Papers

Prelude to Pakistan" was published by Z. H. Zaidi.

Early to mid-1990s

Central Asian countries sought southern routes through Pakistan for energy exports, but Pakistan missed the opportunity.

Mid-1990s

Jamaat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI) became deeply involved with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

1994

"From Dependence to Intervention: Soviet-Afghanistan Relations During the Brezhnev Era (1964-1982)" was published by Syed Rifaat Hussain.

"The Sole Spokesman

Jinnah, the Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan" (Second Edition) was published by Ayesha Jalal.

1995

"Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia: A Comparative and Historical Perspective" was published by Ayesha Jalal.

1995

The number of income taxpayers increased from 250,000 to 1 million.

1996 - The Military in Pakistan: Image and Reality

Published by A. R. Siddiqi.

1997 - Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan

Published by Saeed Shafqat.

June 1997 - Islamabad Agreement Signed

Agreement on joint working groups for comprehensive dialogue.

1998 - Pakistan Conducts Nuclear Tests

Pakistan carried out its nuclear tests.

Modern South Asia

First edition of "History, Culture and Political Economy" published by Ayesha Jalal and Sugata Bose.

August 3

Washington urged Islamabad and New Delhi to refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric.

October

Foreign minister-level talks resumed.

20

February 21, 1999: The Vajpayee-Sharif summit was held in Lahore, and three agreements were signed.

May

July 1999: The Kargil crisis brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

July 4, 1999

Nawaz Sharif signed a joint statement with President Clinton in Washington.

Early 1999

Strategic planning for Pakistan's national defense began.

August 1999

India shot down Pakistan Navy's "Atlantic" aircraft.

October 1999

Military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf, overthrowing Nawaz Sharif's civilian government.

1999

2005: Tenure of Ashraf Hussain as the head of the State Bank of Pakistan.

1999

2008: Pervez Musharraf's rule.

2000

"Self and Sovereignty: The Muslim Individual and the Community of Islam in South Asia since c. 1850" by Ayesha Jalal was published.

2000

The number of income taxpayers increased to 1 million.

2001

September 11: The September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

2001

2005: Maleeha Lodhi was a member of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Disarmament.

2001 - Post-September 11

The United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

2002

February 2: Pervez Musharraf announced Pakistan's nuclear command and control structure and established the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) at the Joint Staff Headquarters.

"Afghanistan and 9/11

The Anatomy of a Conflict" was published by Syed Rifaat Hussain.

Police Order 2002 issued.

May

General Musharraf pledged to end Pakistan's support for militants in Kashmir "forever."

June

Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State, visited New Delhi and Islamabad, and both countries agreed to de-escalate tensions.

October 1965 - October

The India-Pakistan military crisis (Parakram) ended.

August 22

Pervez Musharraf issued the 'Legal Framework Order' and made 29 amendments to the 1973 Constitution.

2003

Maleeha Lodhi served as Pakistan's ambassador to the UK until 2008.

2003

By 2008, Pakistan's economic growth averaged 6% per year.

2004

January: Pervez Musharraf and Atal Bihari Vajpayee met in Islamabad and resumed comprehensive dialogue.

2005

Goldman Sachs introduced the concept of 'Next Eleven' (N-11) as a group of countries with the economic potential to become major players in the global system.

April 2005 - April

Bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad resumed.

October 2005 - October

After the earthquake in Azad Kashmir, the Line of Control was opened at five points.

2006

January: The railway line between Munabao in Rajasthan and Khokhrapar in Sindh resumed.

May 2008 - May

Launch of the second bus service from Kashmir, connecting Poonch in Kashmir and Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir.

General Zia-ul-Haq (1977

1988) appointed as head of the Government Reform Commission (until 2008).

2007

March: Pervez Musharraf attempted to dismiss Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, leading to national protests.

March 2007 - March

Zahid Hussain published the book "Frontline Pakistan: The struggle with militant Islam".

2007 - Summer

Military operation against Lal Masjid in Islamabad.

October 2007 - October

Pervez Musharraf was re-elected in the presidential elections.

October 5, 2007 - October 5

Pervez Musharraf issued the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

October 19, 2007 - Benazir Bhutto's Return

Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan.

November 3, 2007 - Emergency Declared

Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency.

November 28, 2007 - Musharraf Resigns as Army Chief

Pervez Musharraf resigned as army chief and handed over the position to General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

December 2007 - Formation of TTP

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was formed.

December 27, 2007 - Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi.

2008 - January

Ayesha Jalal published the book "Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia."

February 2008 - February

General elections were held in Pakistan, and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) emerged as the largest party.

February 2008 - February

Shuja Nawaz published the book "Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within."

June 2008 - June

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) joined the Sindh provincial government.

August 18, 2008 - August 18

Pervez Musharraf was forced to resign.

November 26, 2008 - November 26

Terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

2009

Shuja Nawaz published the book "FATA: A Most Dangerous Place."

March 2009 - March

Barack Obama announced his first strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan (Af-Pak).

August 2009 - August

U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan intensified.

October 17, 2009 - October 17

A major military operation began in South Waziristan.

November 2009 - November

Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, issued a statement showing signs of flexibility in peace talks.

December 1, 2009 - December 1

Obama announced his strategy in Afghanistan, promising troop increases and a 'civilian surge'.

December 2009 - December

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was active across tribal areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

December 2009 - December

Foreign remittances reached 9 billion dollars.

2010

Shuja Nawaz published the book 'Pakistan in the Danger Zone: A Tenuous US-Pakistan Relationship'.

February 2010 - February

The ISI and CIA arrested several Taliban leaders, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Pakistan.

March 2010 - March

A Pakistani delegation met with President Obama in Washington for a "strategic dialogue."

April 13, 2010 - April 13

The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan met at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

May 3, 2010 - May 3

An Indian court convicted Ajmal Kasab of murder and waging war against India.

June 2010 - June

China agreed to provide Pakistan with two civilian nuclear reactors.

July 2010 - July

Major flood in Pakistan causing extensive economic damage.

July 2011 - July

Maleeha Lodhi edited and published the book "Pakistan: Beyond the 'Crisis State'."

July 2010 - July

Zahid Hussain published the book "The Scorpion's Tail: The relentless rise of Islamic militants in Pakistan."

July 2010 - July

Yousaf Raza Gillani extended General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's term as army chief for another three years.

October 2010 - October

Induction of 4,000 Baloch soldiers into the army to increase their number to 10,000.

Autumn

Pakistani authorities announced temporary additional taxes on income and doubled special indirect taxes on non-essential imports to address flood consequences.

2011

Publication of "Modern South Asia: History, Culture and Political Economy" (3rd edition) by Ayesha Jalal and Sugata Bose.

2025 (Forecast)

Annual energy demand in Pakistan will rise to 198 million tons of oil equivalent.

2030 (Forecast)

28.2 million people in Pakistan will be deprived of education unless rapid progress is made.