Pakistan was created in 1947 as a result of the partition of British India, which divided the subcontinent into two independent states: India and Pakistan. Pakistan was composed of two wings: West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), separated by about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) of Indian territory. The partition was based on the demand of the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who argued that Muslims needed a separate homeland from the Hindu-majority India. However, the partition also caused massive violence, displacement, and communal riots that killed millions of people.

Pakistan has faced many challenges and conflicts since its independence, both internally and externally. It has fought four wars with India over the disputed territory of Kashmir, which remains a source of tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. It has also experienced several military coups, political instability, ethnic strife, sectarian violence, terrorism, and economic crises. Pakistan has been a key ally of the United States in the war on terror since 2001, but also faces criticism for its alleged support of militant groups such as the Taliban and Haqqani network. Pakistan is also a member of several regional and international organizations, such as the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and the United Nations.

Pakistan is a diverse and multiethnic country with over 77 languages spoken by its people1 The official languages are Urdu and English, but many other regional languages are also recognized, such as Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Saraiki, Brahui, and Hindko. The majority of Pakistanis are Muslims (96.5%), mostly Sunni (75-95%), but also Shia (5-25%), Ahmadiyya (0.2%), and other sects. There are also small minorities of Hindus (2.1%), Christians (1.3%), Sikhs (0.03%), Buddhists (0.01%), and others.

Pakistan has a rich and varied culture that reflects its diverse influences from various civilizations and regions throughout history. Some of these include the Indus Valley Civilization, the Vedic period, the Persian Empire, the Islamic Golden Age, the Mughal Empire, the Sikh Empire, the British Raj, and the modern era. Pakistan has produced many notable figures in various fields such as literature, poetry, music, art, architecture, science, education, sports, politics, and religion. Some examples are Allama Iqbal (poet), Abdus Salam (Nobel laureate physicist), Malala Yousafzai (Nobel peace prize winner), Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (singer), Abdul Qadeer Khan (nuclear scientist), Imran Khan (cricketer and prime minister), Benazir Bhutto (first female prime minister), Muhammad Ali Jinnah (founder of Pakistan), and Muhammad Iqbal (philosopher).

Pakistan is also known for its natural beauty and scenic landscapes that range from mountains to deserts to plains to coasts. Some of the most famous attractions in Pakistan are the K2 mountain (the second-highest peak in the world), the Hunza Valley (known as heaven on earth), the Thar Desert (the world’s 17th largest desert), the Makran Coast (the world’s longest coastal belt), the Khewra Salt Mine (the world’s second-largest salt mine), the Shalimar Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Badshahi Mosque (one of the largest mosques in the world), and the Faisal Mosque (the largest mosque in South Asia).