SW Asia Timeline

  • 1947

    India gained independence - political
  • 1948

    India-Pakistan war over Kashmir ends- political
  • 1949

    Bhutan signed newly independent India guaranteeing non-interference in Bhutan's affairs- political
  • 1951

    In Nepal anti-Rana forces based in India alliance with monarch- political
  • 1971

    East and West Pakistan started a war- political
  • 1971

    Bangladesh gains independence after 9-month war- political
  • 1974

    India conducts its first underground Nuclear test- political
  • 1975

    A military coup sees founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members killed putting end to civilian war- political
  • 1976

    Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam founded to fight for Tamil rights- social
  • 1979

    Second Parliament elections brings former army chief Ziaur Rahmans Bangladesh Nationalist party to power
  • 1980

    Development of tourist industry fuel economic growth in Maldives- economic
  • 1982

    General Hussain Muhammad Ershad assumes power in coup- political
  • 1983

    Sir Lanka starts civil war- political
  • 1990

    Government imitates a program of economic liberalization and reform opening up the economy to global trade investment- economic
  • 1998

    King Cedes some powers to national assembly- political
  • 1999

    Army chief Pervez Musharraf seizes power in coup, outing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif- political
  • 2000

    India's population tops 1 billion- social
  • 2007

    Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated while on campaign trail 2008 parliamentary election- political
  • 2008

    Opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed defeats President Gayoom in elections- political
  • 2008

    Nepal becomes republic after abolition of monarchy
  • 2009

    LTTE defeated ending the war though to have killed between 70,000-80,000 people- political/social
  • 2012

    President Mohamed Nasheed is ousted in accup
  • 2014

    Hindu nationalist BJP party scores biggest election victory by any party in 30 years-social
  • Period: to

    2014-2017

    Bangladesh faces a campaign of violence by Islamists against bloggers and atheists.
  • 2015

    New constriction adopted the first in Asia to specifically protect gay rights- social
  • 2018

    Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Sulin defeats president Abdulla Yameen- politial
  • 2018

    Former international criket star Imran Khan became Prime Minister on a pledge to end corruption and dynastic politics- social/political
  • 2019

    Jihadist suicide bombers attack churches and hotels on easter sunday killing over 300 people- political/social