Pakistan's Historical Timeline PDF: Key Events & Major Conflicts

Okay, here is the conversion of the text to markdown format. # A TIME LINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS ## 14 August 1947 **Pakistan created as world's first homeland for Muslims; Swat joins Pakistan** The British divide the lands they ruled in colonial India into majority Muslim and Hindu areas to create...

Okay, here is the conversion of the text to markdown format. # A TIME LINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS ## 14 August 1947 **Pakistan created as world's first homeland for Muslims; Swat joins Pakistan** The British divide the lands they ruled in colonial India into majority Muslim and Hindu areas to create the states of Pakistan and India. Pakistan consists of two regions, East and West Pakistan, separated by Indian territory. Rulers of princely states, which had remained autonomous during British rule, are given the choice of which country to join. The princely state of Swat joins Pakistan with the understanding that it will remain autonomous. ## 1947 **First Indo-Pakistani War** The princely state of Kashmir, led by a Hindu ruler but with a Muslim-majority population, tries to remain independent during partition. This leads to internal revolts by pro-Pakistani factions in Kashmir, which are supported by the Pakistani army. Facing the local rebels with Pakistani army support, the ruler joins India in return for armed assistance. The two armies fight for control of the region until the United Nations is asked to mediate. It calls a cease-fire and establishes a line of control based on the positions of the Indian and Pakistani armies in Kashmir. ## 1948 **Death of founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah** Mohammad Ali Jinnah's death from illness leaves the country without strong leadership at a time when all aspects of the new state need to be organized. ## 1951 **Pakistan's first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, assassinated** Liaquat Ali Khan was another politician who, like Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was key to the establishment of Pakistan. At independence, he became the first prime minister of Pakistan, a position that held more power than that of the governor general at the time (special powers were granted to Mohammad Ali Jinnah). After Mohammad Ali Jinnah's death, Khan tries to stabilize the country by forging alliances and appointing key figures to public office, notably Khawaja Nizamuddin as governor general and Malik Ghulam Mohammad as finance minister. These attempts provoke resentment among opposing political factions, and Khan instead focuses on winning public support for his policies. While campaigning at a rally in Rawalpindi, a city in Punjab Province, he is assassinated by an unemployed youth from North-West Frontier Province. Khan is succeeded by Governor General Khawaja Nizamuddin as prime minister while Malik Ghulam Mohammad is appointed the new governor general. ## 1958 **General Ayub Khan seizes power in Pakistan's first military coup** General Ayub Khan, then commander in chief of the armed forces, takes control of the country in a bloodless coup. President Iskander Mirza is exiled. The coup is widely welcomed by the population because of the political instability in preceding years. Ayub Khan sets a precedent whereby the army takes over the government of Pakistan in times of political uncertainty. ## 1965 **Second Indo-Pakistani War** India and Pakistan clash again over the issue of Kashmir. The United Nations is again asked to intervene. Another cease-fire is called, and negotiations are arranged. The United States and the United Kingdom back the UN resolution by stopping sales of arms to both countries. Negotiations are held that return the border to what it was before the war. India and Pakistan renounce the use of force to resolve the issue. These negotiations are mediated by the Soviet Union and favor neither nation. ## 1969 **Swat becomes part of North-West Frontier Province; Ayub Khan resigns** Ayub Khan loses public support because of his economic policies, which favor the elite; his establishment of a limited democracy with indirect polls, which denied many people their right to vote; and the fallout for Pakistan after the war with India. He resigns, and his protégé, General Yahya Khan, commander in chief of the Pakistani army, takes over. Martial law is declared, and all governing bodies, such as the National Assembly, are dissolved. The government revokes Swat's independent status, and it becomes an administrative district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly called the North-West Frontier Province). ## 1970 **Pakistan's first national elections held** These are the first elections held in Pakistan, where every citizen has the right to vote. The Awami League, based in East Pakistan, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, based in West Pakistan, are the major contenders. The Awami League wins the elections. The People's Party has a majority in West Pakistan. ## 1971 **Third Indo-Pakistani War; East Pakistan becomes independent Bangladesh** The Awami League, with its power base in East Pakistan, is entitled to form the government, but Zulfikar Ali Bhutto resists this. General Yahya Khan supports Bhutto as the formation of the government by the Awami League will transfer political power to East Pakistan. When negotiations between Yahya Khan and the leaders of the Awami League fail, widespread protests erupt in East Pakistan and the Awami League proclaims independence from West Pakistan. In anticipation of civil unrest, units of the army with ties to West Pakistan have been posted in East Pakistan. They are ordered to quell the violence. India supports the formation of the new state and sends its army to aid the Awami League. Fighting spreads to West Pakistan, including the disputed Kashmir border. The government of Pakistan surrenders, and East Pakistan emerges as an independent country, Bangladesh. ## 1971 **Zulfikar Ali Bhutto becomes first elected prime minister** Unable to win the war with India and having lost East Pakistan, General Yahya Khan resigns after appointing a civilian government led by Bhutto, whose party had won the majority of votes in West Pakistan in the 1970 general election. ## 1977 **General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq takes power in military coup** Bhutto's policies make him unpopular. As a result, he calls for general elections in 1977. He emerges the winner but is accused of massive vote-rigging. Amid civil unrest, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq stages a military coup. ## 1979 **Zulfikar Ali Bhutto hanged; Soviet invasion of Afghanistan** Accused of attempting to murder a political opponent, Bhutto is found guilty and hanged. Afghanistan is in the midst of a civil war, as the government wants to move away from Muslim tradition and modernize. In response to this, a Muslim guerrilla fighting force,the *mujahideen*, has risen up against the government. The Soviet Army arrives in Kabul, the capital, to support the government of Afghanistan. The United States, concerned about the spread of communism and the shifting balance of power in the Cold War, looks for allies in the region. As a result, US-Pakistani relations improve, and Pakistan helps the United States support the *mujahideen* indirectly in its efforts to stop the establishment of a communist government in Afghanistan. ## 1988 **General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and senior army officers killed in plane crash; elections held; Benazir Bhutto becomes first female prime minister in Islamic world** General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's administration generally favors the elite, in particular, high- Ranking military officers. His self-appointed prime minister, Muhammad Khan Junejo, however, implements policies, locally and internationally, that conflict with Zia-ul-Haq's agenda. To counter Junejo, Zia-ul-Haq declares a state of emergency and dismisses the government. A little over two months later, Zia-ul-Haq dies in a plane crash, along with many high-ranking members of the government and army. Sabotage is suspected; however, no findings are ever made public. The head of the Senate, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, is appointed president until elections can be held. In the elections that follow Zia-ul-Haq's death, the Pakistan People's Party, led by Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, emerges victorious and forms the government. ## 1989 **Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan complete** Unable to defeat the *mujahideen*, who are being supported by Pakistan and the United States, the Soviet forces withdraw from Afghanistan. The different factions of the *mujahideen* turn on one another, further destabilizing the country. ## 1990 **Benazir Bhutto government dismissed** President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismisses the government of Benazir Bhutto on the basis of alleged corruption and incompetence. The National Assembly is dissolved, and a state of emergency is declared. ## 1991 **Nawaz Sharif becomes prime minister** ## 1993 Army forces Nawaz Sharif and Ghulam Ishaq Khan to resign; second Benazir Bhutto government Political rivalry between President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif brings the government to a standstill. The army intervenes and forces both to resign. In the resulting elections, Benazir Bhutto establishes her second government. ## 1996 **Taliban take power in Kabul** After years of civil war among the various factions of the *mujahideen* in Afghanistan, the Taliban, one of the splinter groups, take over Kabul. Although they impose very strict Muslim law on the country, they are seen as a stabilizing influence and are therefore supported by the Bhutto government. ## 1996 **Second Benazir Bhutto government dismissed** President Farooq Leghari dismisses Bhutto's second government because of allegations of corruption and mismanagement. ## 1997 **Nawaz Sharif forms second government; Malala is born in Swat** After being appointed prime minister for the second time, Sharif takes away the president's power to dismiss the government and appoint the army chief of staff. He is, therefore, more secure during his second term in office. ## 1998 **India conducts nuclear tests; Pakistan does the same** India and Pakistan conduct nuclear tests despite the international trend toward nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. This receives international criticism, as the world fears an arms race and nuclear conflict between the two countries. International sanctions are imposed on both countries, most notably by the United States. ## 1999 **Benazir Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, are convicted of corruption; Bhutto goes into exile; Zardari is jailed; General Pervez Musharraf takes power in a coup** Benazir Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, are convicted of the corruption charges that led to the dismissal of her second government in 1996. They are sentenced to five years' imprisonment and a fine, but Bhutto, who is in London at the time of her conviction, remains in exile. Zardari, who is under arrest at the time of his conviction, after being charged in connection with the murder of Bhutto's brother, is imprisoned for corruption. Faced with heavy opposition, Nawaz Sharif fears another coup by the army, the only institution not under his control. He attempts to replace General Pervez Musharraf, the army chief of staff, with a more compliant officer. Musharraf orders the army to take control of government institutions and declares himself chief executive. Musharraf suspends the constitution, dismisses governing bodies, and establishes a National Security Council consisting of military and civilian appointees to run the country. ## 2001 **Al-Qaeda 9/11 attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon; US bombing of Afghanistan starts; Taliban government overthrown; Osama bin Laden escapes to Pakistan** Pakistan publicly allies with the United States in the war against terror amid international pressure. However, because of the porous nature of the shared border with Afghanistan, many people, including militants, enter Pakistan. Osama bin Laden also covertly enters Pakistan by this route. ## 2004 **Pakistani army starts operation against militants in FATA; first attack on Pakistan by US drone; Zardari goes into exile** The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are populated by Pashtun tribes, which maintain their traditional forms of leadership with minimal intervention by the Pakistani government. As these areas share a border and strong cultural ties with Afghanistan, al-Qaeda members are able to hide in this region and use it as a staging ground for attacks. The Pakistani army launches an attack into FATA to remove the militants. They are not successful and sign a treaty with the militant leader Nek Muhammad Wazir. This sets a precedent for negotiating with the Taliban in the area and undermines the historical tribal system. Nek Muhammad Wazir does not keep the terms of the treaty. A US drone kills him. Released on bail from jail, Zardari goes into exile in the United Arab Emirate of Dubai. ## 2005 **Maulana Fazlullah starts radio stations in Swat; massive earthquake in Pakistan kills more than 70,000 people** The Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Sharia-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) movement started by Sufi Mohammad wants *sharia*, or Islamic law, enforced in Swat. After Sufi Mohammad is imprisoned, Maulana Fazlullah, his son-in-law, takes over the TNSM. He starts dozens of illegal radio stations through which he preaches *jihad*, or holy war. He eventually allies with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Pakistani arm of the Taliban, who want to impose *sharia* across the country. ## 2007 **Army storms Red Mosque in Islamabad; Benazir Bhutto returns to Pakistan; Fazlullah sets up Islamic courts; Musharraf sends troops into Swat; official launch of Pakistan Taliban; Benazir Bhutto assassinated** The clerics of the politically affiliated Red Mosque, or Lal Masjid, a pro-Taliban mosque and madrasa in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, encourage violent acts to further their agenda. Female students carry out many acts of civil disobedience. As these attacks escalate, including the taking of hostages, the police and army are forced to take action. A standoff occurs between the Lal Masjid clerics (and their followers) and the army. It lasts eight days and results in over fifty casualties. Fazlullah calls on his followers to take up arms against the army for this action. Under pressure to restore democracy, Musharraf allows Benazir Bhutto to return to Pakistan. It is widely believed that an agreement between the two has been reached whereby Bhutto will become prime minister and Musharraf will remain in power for another term as president. Bhutto is assassinated while campaigning for the election in Rawalpindi, Punjab. ## 2007-2009 **Taliban extend influence across Swat** In retaliation for the events at Lal Masjid, Fazlullah increases violent attacks in an attempt to impose *sharia* in Swat. After the elections in 2008, a treaty is negotiated between the Taliban and the Pakistani government to restore peace in the area. The Taliban do not adhere to the terms of this treaty, and violence against the Pakistani government, army, and civilians continues. The army launches an offensive, which only escalates the violence. The government agrees to implement *sharia* in parts of Swat. Fazlullah declares a cease-fire. ## 2008 **Zardari becomes president; Musharraf goes into exile** The Pakistan People's Party wins the elections in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination. The party leadership is taken over by her son, Bilawal, and her husband, Zardari, who is elected president. ## 15 January 2009 **All girls' schools in Swat to close by this date, as announced previously by Fazlullah** ## February 2009 **Pakistani government agrees to peace accord with Taliban; the New York Times posts a documentary called Class Dismissed** After failed military action in the area, which leads to increased violence, the government agrees to another peace treaty with the Taliban. The peace accord imposes *sharia* in the region in return for a cease-fire. This essentially puts the region under Taliban control. A New York Times documentary, filmed a month earlier, introduces the terror the Swat Valley faces as it follows Malala and her father and shows their desire to improve education for girls. The documentary helps to gain international attention for the cause. ## April 2009 **Agreement breaks down as Taliban take over Swat** Fazlullah breaks the terms of the agreement and starts extending his area of control. The Taliban take over the main town of Swat, Mingora, and then the districts of Buner and Shangla, which take them very close to the federal capital, Islamabad. ## May 2009 **Pakistani army starts military operation against Taliban in Swat; Malala, along with her family and 800,000 others, leaves Swat** The threat to the capital, Islamabad, causes the military to take decisive action in Swat. Two-thirds of the population of the Swat Valley flee the region. ## July 2009 **Pakistani government declares Taliban cleared from Swat** The military action clears Swat of the Taliban. Maulana Fazlullah escapes the authorities. ## December 2009 **President Obama announces 33,000 extra troops for Afghanistan, putting the total number of NATO troops at 140,000** ## 2010 **Floods across Pakistan kill 2,000 people** The floods are the worst in Pakistan's history. About twenty million people are affected, and a fifth of the country is inundated. ## 2011 **Governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer assassinated; Osama bin Laden killed in Abbottabad; Malala wins Pakistan National Peace Prize** Salmaan Taseer's assassin, one of his own bodyguards, confesses. He explains that he was angered by Taseer's opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy laws. This shocks the international community because it brings to light the intolerance against non-Muslim communities in Pakistan. Osama bin Laden is killed near Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in a US military operation. The government is widely criticized for allowing US incursion on Pakistani soil and for the breakdown of intelligence that allowed bin Laden to live in Pakistan anonymously. ## 9 October 2012 **Malala shot** Amid increasing threats to her and her family, Malala continues to attend the Khushal School. On her way home from school on 9 October, Malala is targeted and shot along with two other girls on her school bus. Fazlullah of the Taliban claims responsibility. All three girls survive. ## 2013 **Musharraf returns and is arrested; elections go ahead despite Taliban violence; Nawaz Sharif wins to become prime minister for third time** Musharraf is arrested on the charge of overstepping his authority while in power. Allegations include unlawfully detaining members of the judiciary. His arrest shows a marked change in the culture of Pakistan, where previous military leaders were not held accountable for their actions while in power. For the first time in Pakistan's history, a democratically elected government has completed its term and transferred power to another democratically elected government. ## 12 July 2013 **Malala addresses the United Nations in New York on her sixteenth birthday and calls for free education for all children** From her new home in Birmingham, England, Malala attends school and continues her campaign for education for children in every country. ## 10 December 2014 **Malala receives the Nobel Peace Prize** Alongside children's rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, Malala is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Sweden, for her stand against extremism and her continued fight for the right to education for all children. She is the youngest recipient in Nobel Peace Prize history.