Geography of Pakistan

The Geography of Pakistan (Urdu: جغرافیۂ پاکِستان, romanized: Juġarāfiyā-Pākistāna) features a diverse array of landscapes, including plains, deserts, forests, and plateaus, extending from the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean in the south to the towering mountains of the Karakoram, Hindukush, and Himalayas in the north. Geologically, Pakistan straddles both the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, with its Sindh and Punjab provinces located on the northwestern corner of the Indian plate. In contrast, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and most of the region known as Jammu-Kashmir (Gilgit-Baltistan) fall within the Eurasian plate, which includes the Iranian Plateau and the Tibetan Plateau to the north. Pakistan shares borders with Iran to the west, Afghanistan to the northwest, China to the northeast, India to the east, and the Arabian Sea to the south. The nation is situated in a geopolitically sensitive area characterized by hostile regional boundaries, marked by territorial disputes and historical tensions, notably the Kashmir conflict with India, which has resulted in several military confrontations between the two countries. The western borders of Pakistan feature significant passes such as the Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, which have historically served as vital migration and trade routes connecting Central Eurasia with South Asia. These routes have facilitated cultural exchanges, military invasions, and commercial activities for centuries.

Regional Classification

The classification of Pakistan within the Indian subcontinent continues to provoke debate and controversy due to its complex historical, geographical, ethnic, and cultural ties to India, as well as its connections to Central Asia and the Middle East. Many in Pakistan view their country as a blend of Indian subcontinental, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern cultures, arguing against a strict classification that solely situates them within the Indian subcontinent. Such rigid categorizations are often seen as contributing to ethnic tensions among different communities within the country, as they may undermine the recognition of their diverse heritage.