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Pakistan was created as the world’s first homeland for Muslims. The State of Swat joins Pakistan but keeps a special status. The First Indo-Pakistan War takes place between India and Pakistan.
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Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, dies.
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Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, was assassinated.
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Constitution declares Pakistan an Islamic republic.
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General Ayub Khan seizes power in Pakistan’s first military coup and martial law is declared.
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The Second Indo-Pakistan War takes place.
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Pakistan’s first national elections are held.
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The Third Indo-Pakistan War takes place and East Pakistan becomes independent Bangladesh. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto becomes the first elected prime minister.
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General Zia ul-Haq takes power in military coup.
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Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is hanged and the Russian Soviets invade Afghanistan.
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General Zia and senior army officers are killed in a plane crash. Elections are held and Benazir Bhutto becomes the first female prime minister in the Islamic world.
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The Russian Soviets completely withdraw from Afghanistan.
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Benazir Bhutto’s government is dismissed.
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Nawaz Sharif becomes prime minister.
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Nawaz Sharif is forced to resign by the army. The Second Benazir Bhutto government starts.
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Nawaz Sharif forms the second government.
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The Taliban takes power in Kabul. That same year the Second Benazir Bhutto government is dismissed.
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India and Pakistan conduct nuclear tests.
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Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari are convicted of corruption. Benazir goes into exile in London and her husband is jailed.
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Al Qaeda attacks the World Trade Center and Pentagon. U.S. bombing in Afghanistan starts. The Taliban government is overthrown. Osama bin Laden escapes to Pakistan.
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The first attack on Pakistan by a U.S. drone occurs. Zardari, Benazir’s husband, goes into exile in Dubai.
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Maulana Fazlullah starts his radio broadcasts in Swat. A massive earthquake in Pakistan kills more than 700,000 people.
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The Taliban extends his influence across Swat.
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Benazir Bhutto returns to Pakistan. The Pakistan Taliban is launched. Benazir Bhutto is assassinated.
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Zaradari, Benazir’s husband, becomes president.
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On January 15, Fazullah announces all girls’ schools are forcefully closed in Swat. In February, the Pakistani government agrees a peace accord with the Taliban. However in April, the agreement breaks down as the Taliban take over Swat. The Pakistani army starts military operations against the Taliban in Swat in May. And in July, the Pakistan government declares the Taliban cleared from Swat.
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Floods across Pakistan kill 2,000 people.
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The governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer was assassinated. Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad by U.S. Navy Seals.
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On October 9, Malala was shot on her way home from school.
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Elections go ahead despite Taliban violence. Malala addresses the UN in New York and calls for free education for all children.
