Pakistan - Revision history

Adarshatva at 08:05, 15 June 2026

2026-06-15T08:05:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:35, 15 June 2026
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	[[Category:Member states of the United Nations]]		[[Category:Member states of the United Nations]]
	[[Category:Countries in South Asia]]		[[Category:Countries in South Asia]]
			[[Category:Countries in the Indian subcontinent]]
	[[Category:States and territories established in 1947]]		[[Category:States and territories established in 1947]]
	[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]		[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

Adarshatva: /* Post-independence */

2026-06-15T07:18:30Z

Post-independence

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:48, 15 June 2026
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	In the riots that accompanied the partition in Punjab Province, between 200,000 and 2,000,000 people were killed in what some have described as a retributive genocide between the religions.{{refn\|name="Riots-1"}} Around 50,000 Muslim women were [[Violence against women during the partition of India\|abducted and raped]] by Hindu and Sikh men, while 33,000 Hindu and Sikh women experienced the same fate at the hands of Muslims.{{refn\|name="Riots-2"}} Around 6.5 million Muslims moved from India to West Pakistan and 4.7 million Hindus and Sikhs moved from West Pakistan to India.{{R\|Hasan-Raza-2009}} It was the largest mass migration in human history.{{sfn\|Riggs\|2024}} A subsequent dispute over the [[princely state]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)\|Jammu and Kashmir]] eventually sparked the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]].{{sfn\|Bhaumik\|1996}}		In the riots that accompanied the partition in Punjab Province, between 200,000 and 2,000,000 people were killed in what some have described as a retributive genocide between the religions.{{refn\|name="Riots-1"}} Around 50,000 Muslim women were [[Violence against women during the partition of India\|abducted and raped]] by Hindu and Sikh men, while 33,000 Hindu and Sikh women experienced the same fate at the hands of Muslims.{{refn\|name="Riots-2"}} Around 6.5 million Muslims moved from India to West Pakistan and 4.7 million Hindus and Sikhs moved from West Pakistan to India.{{R\|Hasan-Raza-2009}} It was the largest mass migration in human history.{{sfn\|Riggs\|2024}} A subsequent dispute over the [[princely state]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)\|Jammu and Kashmir]] eventually sparked the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]].{{sfn\|Bhaumik\|1996}}

	=== Post-~~independence~~ ===		=== Post-creation ===
	{{Main\|History of Pakistan (1947–present)\|Dominion of Pakistan}}		{{Main\|History of Pakistan (1947–present)\|Dominion of Pakistan}}
	[[File:Liaquat Ali Khan 1945.jpg\|thumb\|left\|upright=0.8\|[[Liaquat Ali Khan]] was elected the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.{{sfn\|Kazmi\|2003}}{{sfn\|Tucker\|2017}}]]		[[File:Liaquat Ali Khan 1945.jpg\|thumb\|left\|upright=0.8\|[[Liaquat Ali Khan]] was elected the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.{{sfn\|Kazmi\|2003}}{{sfn\|Tucker\|2017}}]]

Adarshatva: /* Independence */

2026-06-15T07:15:16Z

Independence

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:45, 15 June 2026
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	By 1942, Britain faced considerable strain during [[World War II]], with India directly threatened by Japanese forces. Britain had pledged voluntary independence for India in exchange for support during the war. However, this pledge included a clause stating that no part of British India would be compelled to join the resulting dominion, which could be interpreted as support for an independent Muslim nation. Congress under the leadership of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] launched the [[Quit India Movement]], demanding an immediate end to British rule. In contrast, the Muslim League chose to support the [[United Kingdom in World War II\|UK's war efforts]], thereby nurturing the possibility of establishing a Muslim nation.{{R\|Tucker-2020}}{{sfn\|Chandra\|2008}}		By 1942, Britain faced considerable strain during [[World War II]], with India directly threatened by Japanese forces. Britain had pledged voluntary independence for India in exchange for support during the war. However, this pledge included a clause stating that no part of British India would be compelled to join the resulting dominion, which could be interpreted as support for an independent Muslim nation. Congress under the leadership of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] launched the [[Quit India Movement]], demanding an immediate end to British rule. In contrast, the Muslim League chose to support the [[United Kingdom in World War II\|UK's war efforts]], thereby nurturing the possibility of establishing a Muslim nation.{{R\|Tucker-2020}}{{sfn\|Chandra\|2008}}

	=== ~~Independence~~ ===		=== Creation===
	{{main\|Pakistan Movement}}		{{main\|Pakistan Movement}}
	{{further\|Indian independence movement\|Partition of India}}		{{further\|Indian independence movement\|Partition of India}}

Adarshatva at 06:09, 15 June 2026

2026-06-15T06:09:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:39, 15 June 2026
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	{{Short description\|Country in ~~South Asia~~}}		{{Short description\|Country in the Indian subcontinent}}
	{{About\|the country\|other uses\|Pakistan (disambiguation)}}		{{About\|the country\|other uses\|Pakistan (disambiguation)}}
	{{pp-extended\|small=yes}}		{{pp-extended\|small=yes}}
	{{Use ~~Pakistani~~ English\|date=April 2022}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=April 2022}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=February 2026}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=February 2026}}
	{{Infobox country		{{Infobox country
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	{{Contains special characters\|Urdu\|compact=yes}}		{{Contains special characters\|Urdu\|compact=yes}}

	'''Pakistan''',{{efn\|{{~~langx~~\|ur\|{{Nastaliq\|پَاکِسْتَان}}}}, {{IPA\|ur\|ˈpɑːkɪstɑːn\|audio=Pakistan pronunciation.ogg}}; Pronounced variably in English as {{IPAc-en\|audio=En-us-Pakistan.ogg\|ˈ\|p\|æ\|k\|ᵻ\|s\|t\|æ\|n}}, {{IPAc-en\|audio=En-us-Pakistan-2.ogg\|ˈ\|p\|ɑː\|k\|ᵻ\|s\|t\|ɑː\|n}}, {{IPAc-en\|ˌ\|p\|æ\|k\|ᵻ\|ˈ\|s\|t\|æ\|n}}, and {{IPAc-en\|ˌ\|p\|ɑː\|k\|ᵻ\|ˈ\|s\|t\|ɑː\|n}}.}} officially the '''Islamic Republic of Pakistan''',{{efn\|[[ISO 15919\|ISO]]: {{langx\|engvar=in\|ur\|{{Nastaliq\|اِسْلامی		'''Pakistan''',{{efn\|{{lang\|ur\|{{Nastaliq\|پَاکِسْتَان}}}}{{space\|1}}{{lang\|inc-deva\|पाकिस्तान}}{{space\|1}}, {{IPA\|ur\|ˈpɑːkɪstɑːn\|audio=Pakistan pronunciation.ogg}}; Pronounced variably in English as {{IPAc-en\|audio=En-us-Pakistan.ogg\|ˈ\|p\|æ\|k\|ᵻ\|s\|t\|æ\|n}}, {{IPAc-en\|audio=En-us-Pakistan-2.ogg\|ˈ\|p\|ɑː\|k\|ᵻ\|s\|t\|ɑː\|n}}, {{IPAc-en\|ˌ\|p\|æ\|k\|ᵻ\|ˈ\|s\|t\|æ\|n}}, and {{IPAc-en\|ˌ\|p\|ɑː\|k\|ᵻ\|ˈ\|s\|t\|ɑː\|n}}.}} officially the '''Islamic Republic of Pakistan''',{{efn\|[[ISO 15919\|ISO]]: {{langx\|engvar=in\|ur\|{{Nastaliq\|اِسْلامی
	جُمْہُورِیَہ پَاکِسْتَان}}\|label=none}}, {{Transliteration\|ur\|Islāmi Jumhūriyāh Pākistān\|engvar=in}}}} is a country in [[~~South Asia~~]]. It is the [[List of countries and dependencies by population\|fifth-most populous country]], with a population of over ~~241~~.~~5 million~~,{{efn\|name=fn3}} having the [[Islam by country#Countries\|second-largest Muslim population]] as of 2023. [[Islamabad]] is the nation's capital, while [[Karachi]] is [[List of cities in Pakistan by population\|its largest city]] and [[financial centre]]. Pakistan is the [[List of countries and dependencies by area\|33rd-largest country by area]]. Bounded by the [[Arabian Sea]] on the south, the [[Gulf of Oman]] on the southwest, and the [[Sir Creek]] on the southeast, it shares land borders with [[India]] to the east; [[Afghanistan]] to the west; [[Iran]] to the southwest; and [[China]] to the northeast. It shares a maritime border with [[Oman]] in the Gulf of Oman, and is separated from [[Tajikistan]] in the northwest by Afghanistan's narrow [[Wakhan Corridor]].		جُمْہُورِیَہ پَاکِسْتَان}}\|label=none}}, {{Transliteration\|ur\|Islāmi Jumhūriyāh Pākistān\|engvar=in}}}} is a country in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. It is the [[List of countries and dependencies by population\|fifth-most populous country]], with a population of over 24.15 crore,{{efn\|name=fn3}} having the [[Islam by country#Countries\|second-largest Muslim population]] as of 2023. [[Islamabad]] is the nation's capital, while [[Karachi]] is [[List of cities in Pakistan by population\|its largest city]] and [[financial centre]]. Pakistan is the [[List of countries and dependencies by area\|33rd-largest country by area]]. Bounded by the [[Arabian Sea]] on the south, the [[Gulf of Oman]] on the southwest, and the [[Sir Creek]] on the southeast, it shares land borders with [[India]] to the east; [[Afghanistan]] to the west; [[Iran]] to the southwest; and [[China]] to the northeast. It shares a maritime border with [[Oman]] in the Gulf of Oman, and is separated from [[Tajikistan]] in the northwest by Afghanistan's narrow [[Wakhan Corridor]].

	Pakistan is the site of [[History of Pakistan\|several ancient cultures]], including the 8,500-year-old [[Neolithic]] site of [[Mehrgarh]] in [[Balochistan, Pakistan\|Balochistan]], the [[Indus Valley Civilisation]] of the [[Bronze Age]],{{R\|Wright-2009}} and the ancient [[Gandhara civilisation]].{{sfn\|Badian\|1987}} The regions that compose the modern state of Pakistan were the realm of multiple empires and dynasties, including the [[Achaemenid Empire\|Achaemenid]], the [[Maurya Empire\|Maurya]], the [[Kushan Empire\|Kushan]], the [[Gupta Empire\|Gupta]];{{sfn\|Wynbrandt\|2009}} the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] in its southern regions, the [[Hindu Shahis]], the [[Ghaznavids]], the [[Delhi Sultanate]], the [[Samma dynasty\|Samma]], the [[Shah Miris]], the [[Mughal Empire\|Mughals]],{{sfn\|Spuler\|1969}} and finally, the [[British Raj]] from 1858 to 1947.

	Spurred by the [[Pakistan Movement]], which sought a homeland for the Muslims of [[Presidencies and provinces of British India\|British India]], and election victories in 1946 by the [[All-India Muslim League]], Pakistan gained independence in 1947 after the [[partition of ~~British~~ India]], which awarded separate statehood to its Muslim-majority regions and was accompanied by an unparalleled mass migration and loss of life.{{R\|Copland-2001\|Metcalf-2006}} Initially [[Dominion of Pakistan\|a dominion]] of the [[Commonwealth of Nations\|British Commonwealth]], Pakistan [[Constitution of Pakistan (1956–1958)\|adopted a republican constitution]] in 1956 and became an [[Islamic republic]] with two geographically separate provinces, [[East Pakistan]] and [[West Pakistan]]. East Pakistan seceded as the new country of [[Bangladesh]] in 1971 after a [[Bangladesh Liberation War\|nine-month-long civil war]]. In the following four decades, Pakistan has been ruled by governments that alternated between civilian and military, democratic and authoritarian, relatively ~~[[Secularism in Pakistan\|secular]]~~ and Islamist.{{sfn\|Talbot\|2016}}		Spurred by the [[Pakistan Movement]], which sought a homeland for the Muslims of [[Presidencies and provinces of British India\|British India]], and election victories in 1946 by the [[All-India Muslim League]], Pakistan gained independence in 1947 after the [[partition of India]], which awarded separate statehood to its Muslim-majority regions and was accompanied by an unparalleled mass migration and loss of life.{{R\|Copland-2001\|Metcalf-2006}} Initially [[Dominion of Pakistan\|a dominion]] of the [[Commonwealth of Nations\|British Commonwealth]], Pakistan [[Constitution of Pakistan (1956–1958)\|adopted a republican constitution]] in 1956 and became an [[Islamic republic]] with two geographically separate provinces, [[East Pakistan]] and [[West Pakistan]]. East Pakistan seceded as the new country of [[Bangladesh]] in 1971 after a [[Bangladesh Liberation War\|nine-month-long civil war]]. In the following four decades, Pakistan has been ruled by governments that alternated between civilian and military, democratic and authoritarian, relatively soft-Islamist and Islamist.{{sfn\|Talbot\|2016}}

	Pakistan ~~is considered a [[middle power]] and~~ is a declared [[List of states with nuclear weapons\|nuclear-weapon state]], with the world's [[List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel\|seventh-largest standing armed forces]]. The [[Economy of Pakistan\|Pakistani economy]] is ranked amongst the world's emerging and growth-leading economies,{{sfn\|Zia\|Burton\|2023}} with a large and rapidly growing middle class.{{sfn\|Rais\|2017}}{{sfn\|Cornwall\|Edwards\|2014}} Pakistan's political history since independence has been characterised by periods of significant economic and military growth as well as those of political and economic instability. It is an [[Ethnic groups in Pakistan\|ethnically]] and [[Languages of Pakistan\|linguistically]] diverse country, with similarly diverse [[Geography of Pakistan\|geography]] and [[Wildlife of Pakistan\|wildlife]]. The country continues to face [[Poverty in Pakistan\|poverty]], [[Literate Pakistan Foundation\|illiteracy]], [[Corruption in Pakistan\|corruption]], and [[Terrorism in Pakistan\|terrorism]].{{sfn\|Joseph\|2016}}{{sfn\|Baqir\|2018}}{{sfn\|SATP\|2024}} Pakistan is a member of the United Nations, the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]], the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]], and the [[Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition\|Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition]], and is designated as a [[major non-NATO ally]] by the United States.		Pakistan is a declared [[List of states with nuclear weapons\|nuclear-weapon state]], with the world's [[List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel\|seventh-largest standing armed forces]]. The [[Economy of Pakistan\|Pakistani economy]] is ranked amongst the world's emerging and growth-leading economies,{{sfn\|Zia\|Burton\|2023}} with a large and rapidly growing middle class.{{sfn\|Rais\|2017}}{{sfn\|Cornwall\|Edwards\|2014}} Pakistan's political history since independence has been characterised by periods of significant economic and military growth as well as those of political and economic instability. It is an [[Ethnic groups in Pakistan\|ethnically]] and [[Languages of Pakistan\|linguistically]] diverse country, with similarly diverse [[Geography of Pakistan\|geography]] and [[Wildlife of Pakistan\|wildlife]]. The country continues to face [[Poverty in Pakistan\|poverty]], [[Literate Pakistan Foundation\|illiteracy]], [[Corruption in Pakistan\|corruption]], and [[Terrorism in Pakistan\|terrorism]].{{sfn\|Joseph\|2016}}{{sfn\|Baqir\|2018}}{{sfn\|SATP\|2024}} Pakistan is a member of the United Nations, the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]], the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]], and the [[Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition\|Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition]], and is designated as a [[major non-NATO ally]] by the United States.

	== Etymology ==		== Etymology ==

Adarshatva at 04:10, 7 June 2026

2026-06-07T04:10:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:40, 7 June 2026
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	\| upper_house = [[Senate of Pakistan\|Senate]]		\| upper_house = [[Senate of Pakistan\|Senate]]
	\| lower_house = [[National Assembly of Pakistan\|National Assembly]]		\| lower_house = [[National Assembly of Pakistan\|National Assembly]]
	\| sovereignty_type = [[Pakistan Movement\|~~Independence~~]]		\| sovereignty_type = [[Pakistan Movement\|Creation]]
	\| sovereignty_note = from the [[~~United Kingdom~~]]		\| sovereignty_note = from the [[British India]]
	\| established_event1 = [[Lahore Resolution\|Declaration]]		\| established_event1 = [[Lahore Resolution\|Declaration]]
	\| established_date1 = 23 March 1940		\| established_date1 = 23 March 1940
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	\| established_event8 =		\| established_event8 =
	\| established_date8 =		\| established_date8 =
	\| area_km2 = ~~881~~,913		\| area_km2 = 8,81,913
	\| area_footnote = {{efn\|"Includes data for Pakistani territories of Kashmir; [[Azad Kashmir]] ({{convert\|13297\|km2\|sqmi\|disp=or\|abbr=on}}) and [[Gilgit–Baltistan]] ({{convert\|72520\|km2\|sqmi\|disp=or\|abbr=on}}).{{sfn\|James\|2022}} Excluding these territories would produce an area figure of {{convert\|796,095\|km2\|sqmi\|abbr=on}}."}}{{sfn\|Bhandari\|2022}}		\| area_footnote = {{efn\|"Includes data for Pakistani territories of Kashmir; [[Azad Kashmir]] ({{convert\|13297\|km2\|sqmi\|disp=or\|abbr=on}}) and [[Gilgit–Baltistan]] ({{convert\|72520\|km2\|sqmi\|disp=or\|abbr=on}}).{{sfn\|James\|2022}} Excluding these territories would produce an area figure of {{convert\|796,095\|km2\|sqmi\|abbr=on}}."}}{{sfn\|Bhandari\|2022}}
	\| area_rank = 33rd		\| area_rank = 33rd
	\| area_sq_mi = ~~307~~,374		\| area_sq_mi = 3,07,374
	\| percent_water = 2.86		\| percent_water = 2.86
	\| population_density_km2 = 273.8		\| population_density_km2 = 273.8

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← Older revision		Revision as of 11:39, 15 June 2026
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	{{Short description\|Country in ~~South Asia~~}}		{{Short description\|Country in the Indian subcontinent}}
	{{About\|the country\|other uses\|Pakistan (disambiguation)}}		{{About\|the country\|other uses\|Pakistan (disambiguation)}}
	{{pp-extended\|small=yes}}		{{pp-extended\|small=yes}}
	{{Use ~~Pakistani~~ English\|date=April 2022}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=April 2022}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=February 2026}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=February 2026}}
	{{Infobox country		{{Infobox country
Line 111:		Line 111:
	{{Contains special characters\|Urdu\|compact=yes}}		{{Contains special characters\|Urdu\|compact=yes}}

	'''Pakistan''',{{efn\|{{~~langx~~\|ur\|{{Nastaliq\|پَاکِسْتَان}}}}, {{IPA\|ur\|ˈpɑːkɪstɑːn\|audio=Pakistan pronunciation.ogg}}; Pronounced variably in English as {{IPAc-en\|audio=En-us-Pakistan.ogg\|ˈ\|p\|æ\|k\|ᵻ\|s\|t\|æ\|n}}, {{IPAc-en\|audio=En-us-Pakistan-2.ogg\|ˈ\|p\|ɑː\|k\|ᵻ\|s\|t\|ɑː\|n}}, {{IPAc-en\|ˌ\|p\|æ\|k\|ᵻ\|ˈ\|s\|t\|æ\|n}}, and {{IPAc-en\|ˌ\|p\|ɑː\|k\|ᵻ\|ˈ\|s\|t\|ɑː\|n}}.}} officially the '''Islamic Republic of Pakistan''',{{efn\|[[ISO 15919\|ISO]]: {{langx\|engvar=in\|ur\|{{Nastaliq\|اِسْلامی		'''Pakistan''',{{efn\|{{lang\|ur\|{{Nastaliq\|پَاکِسْتَان}}}}{{space\|1}}{{lang\|inc-deva\|पाकिस्तान}}{{space\|1}}, {{IPA\|ur\|ˈpɑːkɪstɑːn\|audio=Pakistan pronunciation.ogg}}; Pronounced variably in English as {{IPAc-en\|audio=En-us-Pakistan.ogg\|ˈ\|p\|æ\|k\|ᵻ\|s\|t\|æ\|n}}, {{IPAc-en\|audio=En-us-Pakistan-2.ogg\|ˈ\|p\|ɑː\|k\|ᵻ\|s\|t\|ɑː\|n}}, {{IPAc-en\|ˌ\|p\|æ\|k\|ᵻ\|ˈ\|s\|t\|æ\|n}}, and {{IPAc-en\|ˌ\|p\|ɑː\|k\|ᵻ\|ˈ\|s\|t\|ɑː\|n}}.}} officially the '''Islamic Republic of Pakistan''',{{efn\|[[ISO 15919\|ISO]]: {{langx\|engvar=in\|ur\|{{Nastaliq\|اِسْلامی
	جُمْہُورِیَہ پَاکِسْتَان}}\|label=none}}, {{Transliteration\|ur\|Islāmi Jumhūriyāh Pākistān\|engvar=in}}}} is a country in [[~~South Asia~~]]. It is the [[List of countries and dependencies by population\|fifth-most populous country]], with a population of over ~~241~~.~~5 million~~,{{efn\|name=fn3}} having the [[Islam by country#Countries\|second-largest Muslim population]] as of 2023. [[Islamabad]] is the nation's capital, while [[Karachi]] is [[List of cities in Pakistan by population\|its largest city]] and [[financial centre]]. Pakistan is the [[List of countries and dependencies by area\|33rd-largest country by area]]. Bounded by the [[Arabian Sea]] on the south, the [[Gulf of Oman]] on the southwest, and the [[Sir Creek]] on the southeast, it shares land borders with [[India]] to the east; [[Afghanistan]] to the west; [[Iran]] to the southwest; and [[China]] to the northeast. It shares a maritime border with [[Oman]] in the Gulf of Oman, and is separated from [[Tajikistan]] in the northwest by Afghanistan's narrow [[Wakhan Corridor]].		جُمْہُورِیَہ پَاکِسْتَان}}\|label=none}}, {{Transliteration\|ur\|Islāmi Jumhūriyāh Pākistān\|engvar=in}}}} is a country in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. It is the [[List of countries and dependencies by population\|fifth-most populous country]], with a population of over 24.15 crore,{{efn\|name=fn3}} having the [[Islam by country#Countries\|second-largest Muslim population]] as of 2023. [[Islamabad]] is the nation's capital, while [[Karachi]] is [[List of cities in Pakistan by population\|its largest city]] and [[financial centre]]. Pakistan is the [[List of countries and dependencies by area\|33rd-largest country by area]]. Bounded by the [[Arabian Sea]] on the south, the [[Gulf of Oman]] on the southwest, and the [[Sir Creek]] on the southeast, it shares land borders with [[India]] to the east; [[Afghanistan]] to the west; [[Iran]] to the southwest; and [[China]] to the northeast. It shares a maritime border with [[Oman]] in the Gulf of Oman, and is separated from [[Tajikistan]] in the northwest by Afghanistan's narrow [[Wakhan Corridor]].

	Pakistan is the site of [[History of Pakistan\|several ancient cultures]], including the 8,500-year-old [[Neolithic]] site of [[Mehrgarh]] in [[Balochistan, Pakistan\|Balochistan]], the [[Indus Valley Civilisation]] of the [[Bronze Age]],{{R\|Wright-2009}} and the ancient [[Gandhara civilisation]].{{sfn\|Badian\|1987}} The regions that compose the modern state of Pakistan were the realm of multiple empires and dynasties, including the [[Achaemenid Empire\|Achaemenid]], the [[Maurya Empire\|Maurya]], the [[Kushan Empire\|Kushan]], the [[Gupta Empire\|Gupta]];{{sfn\|Wynbrandt\|2009}} the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] in its southern regions, the [[Hindu Shahis]], the [[Ghaznavids]], the [[Delhi Sultanate]], the [[Samma dynasty\|Samma]], the [[Shah Miris]], the [[Mughal Empire\|Mughals]],{{sfn\|Spuler\|1969}} and finally, the [[British Raj]] from 1858 to 1947.

	Spurred by the [[Pakistan Movement]], which sought a homeland for the Muslims of [[Presidencies and provinces of British India\|British India]], and election victories in 1946 by the [[All-India Muslim League]], Pakistan gained independence in 1947 after the [[partition of ~~British~~ India]], which awarded separate statehood to its Muslim-majority regions and was accompanied by an unparalleled mass migration and loss of life.{{R\|Copland-2001\|Metcalf-2006}} Initially [[Dominion of Pakistan\|a dominion]] of the [[Commonwealth of Nations\|British Commonwealth]], Pakistan [[Constitution of Pakistan (1956–1958)\|adopted a republican constitution]] in 1956 and became an [[Islamic republic]] with two geographically separate provinces, [[East Pakistan]] and [[West Pakistan]]. East Pakistan seceded as the new country of [[Bangladesh]] in 1971 after a [[Bangladesh Liberation War\|nine-month-long civil war]]. In the following four decades, Pakistan has been ruled by governments that alternated between civilian and military, democratic and authoritarian, relatively ~~[[Secularism in Pakistan\|secular]]~~ and Islamist.{{sfn\|Talbot\|2016}}		Spurred by the [[Pakistan Movement]], which sought a homeland for the Muslims of [[Presidencies and provinces of British India\|British India]], and election victories in 1946 by the [[All-India Muslim League]], Pakistan gained independence in 1947 after the [[partition of India]], which awarded separate statehood to its Muslim-majority regions and was accompanied by an unparalleled mass migration and loss of life.{{R\|Copland-2001\|Metcalf-2006}} Initially [[Dominion of Pakistan\|a dominion]] of the [[Commonwealth of Nations\|British Commonwealth]], Pakistan [[Constitution of Pakistan (1956–1958)\|adopted a republican constitution]] in 1956 and became an [[Islamic republic]] with two geographically separate provinces, [[East Pakistan]] and [[West Pakistan]]. East Pakistan seceded as the new country of [[Bangladesh]] in 1971 after a [[Bangladesh Liberation War\|nine-month-long civil war]]. In the following four decades, Pakistan has been ruled by governments that alternated between civilian and military, democratic and authoritarian, relatively soft-Islamist and Islamist.{{sfn\|Talbot\|2016}}

	Pakistan ~~is considered a [[middle power]] and~~ is a declared [[List of states with nuclear weapons\|nuclear-weapon state]], with the world's [[List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel\|seventh-largest standing armed forces]]. The [[Economy of Pakistan\|Pakistani economy]] is ranked amongst the world's emerging and growth-leading economies,{{sfn\|Zia\|Burton\|2023}} with a large and rapidly growing middle class.{{sfn\|Rais\|2017}}{{sfn\|Cornwall\|Edwards\|2014}} Pakistan's political history since independence has been characterised by periods of significant economic and military growth as well as those of political and economic instability. It is an [[Ethnic groups in Pakistan\|ethnically]] and [[Languages of Pakistan\|linguistically]] diverse country, with similarly diverse [[Geography of Pakistan\|geography]] and [[Wildlife of Pakistan\|wildlife]]. The country continues to face [[Poverty in Pakistan\|poverty]], [[Literate Pakistan Foundation\|illiteracy]], [[Corruption in Pakistan\|corruption]], and [[Terrorism in Pakistan\|terrorism]].{{sfn\|Joseph\|2016}}{{sfn\|Baqir\|2018}}{{sfn\|SATP\|2024}} Pakistan is a member of the United Nations, the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]], the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]], and the [[Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition\|Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition]], and is designated as a [[major non-NATO ally]] by the United States.		Pakistan is a declared [[List of states with nuclear weapons\|nuclear-weapon state]], with the world's [[List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel\|seventh-largest standing armed forces]]. The [[Economy of Pakistan\|Pakistani economy]] is ranked amongst the world's emerging and growth-leading economies,{{sfn\|Zia\|Burton\|2023}} with a large and rapidly growing middle class.{{sfn\|Rais\|2017}}{{sfn\|Cornwall\|Edwards\|2014}} Pakistan's political history since independence has been characterised by periods of significant economic and military growth as well as those of political and economic instability. It is an [[Ethnic groups in Pakistan\|ethnically]] and [[Languages of Pakistan\|linguistically]] diverse country, with similarly diverse [[Geography of Pakistan\|geography]] and [[Wildlife of Pakistan\|wildlife]]. The country continues to face [[Poverty in Pakistan\|poverty]], [[Literate Pakistan Foundation\|illiteracy]], [[Corruption in Pakistan\|corruption]], and [[Terrorism in Pakistan\|terrorism]].{{sfn\|Joseph\|2016}}{{sfn\|Baqir\|2018}}{{sfn\|SATP\|2024}} Pakistan is a member of the United Nations, the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]], the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]], and the [[Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition\|Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition]], and is designated as a [[major non-NATO ally]] by the United States.

	== Etymology ==		== Etymology ==