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India won independence
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war over Kashmir ends but decades long conflict begins
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India became a democratic republic.
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Sovereignty of crown restored and anti-Rana rebels in Nepalese Congress Party form government.
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Jinnah's successor Liaquat Ali Khan is assassinated.
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Nepal joins the United Nations.
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King Tribhuwan dies, King Mahendra ascends throne.
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Solomon Bandaranaike elected on wave of Sinhalese nationalism. Sinhala made sole official language and other measures introduced to bolster Sinhalese and Buddhist sentiment.
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Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is assassinated in a military coup in August. Martial law is imposed.
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Slavery abolished. Other social reforms follow in subsequent years.
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Prime Minister Bandaranaike assassinated by a Buddhist monk. Succeeded by widow, Srimavo, who continues socialist policies.
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New constitution provides for non-party system of councils known as "panchayat" under which king exercises sole power. First elections to Rastrya Panchayat held in 1963.
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Prime minister killed in dispute among competing political factions.
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The Awami League wins an overwhelming election victory in East Pakistan. The government in West Pakistan refuses to recognise the results, leading to rioting.
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East Pakistan attempts to secede, leading to civil war. India intervenes in support of East Pakistan which eventually breaks away to become Bangladesh.
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Awami League proclaims independence of the province as Bangladesh. Pakistan is defeated in brief war, with Indian assistance.
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First foreign tourists allowed in Bhutan
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India tested their first nuclear bomb.
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Severe floods devastate much of the grain crop, leading to an estimated 28,000 deaths.
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Riots erupt over allegations of vote-rigging by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP). General Zia ul-Haq launches military coup.
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Development of tourist industry fuels economic growth.
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13 soldiers killed in LTTE ambush, sparking anti-Tamil riots leading to the deaths of several hundred Tamils. Start of what Tigers call "First Eelam War".
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First attempt at peace talks between government and LTTE fails
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Benazir Bhutto dismissed as prime minister on charges of incompetence and corruption.
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Fifteen former army officers sentenced to death for involvement in assassination of President Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
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Parliamentary elections take place, with more than 120 independent candidates contesting 40 seats
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President Gayoom warns low-lying islands at greater risk than ever before, and calls on international community to take urgent action to prevent global environmental catastrophe.
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Unprecedented anti-government riots break out in Male
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Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated while on campaign trail for 2008 parliamentary election.
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Governing Awami League wins landslide victory in parliamentary election, but the campaign was marred by reports of violence, intimidation, and vote-rigging. At least 17 people died in clashes between Awami League and opposition supporters.