Introduction to Pakistan Studies

Syed Waqar Hasan

 Pakistan Studies
• Historical background
• Reasons and concepts behind the creations of
Pakistan
• Struggle for the state
• Role of different personalities
• Initial problems
• Constitutional and unconstitutional governments
• Relations with outer world
• Future road map and new prospects
 Historical Background
• Aryan civilization in the region
• Muslim arrival
• Muhammad Bin Qasim and his invasions
• Mehmood Ghaznvi and other Afghans
• Role of Sufism
• Mughals and other empires
• British rule and introduction of structures, rules & regulations,
scientific approach but the structures were British Government
centered
• Educational reforms changed everything
• Local economic structures were demolished and Muslims refused to
accept new structures
• Economic disparity between Muslims and other community
• Political, economic and educational isolation
 Reasons and concepts behind the creations
of Pakistan
• There are three mostly accepted reasons given
by historians for the creation of Pakistan
1. Economic disparity between Muslims and
Hindus
2. Creating a frontline state to block Russia
3. Cultural and religious differences of Hindus &
Muslims
 Economic disparity between Hindus &
Muslim communities
• Difference in literacy rate
• Literacy rate of India was 14% while in case of
Muslims it was less than 2%.
• Only in UP 18% Muslims were literate while in
Bengal it was around 6%
• Lower literacy rate means lesser opportunities
• Economic differences kept on widening.
 Creating a frontline state to block Russia
• Post World War II conditions compelled Britain to
leave India
• Navy was the main weapon of British Military
• They never wanted Russians to expand to these
warm waters and they wanted a guarantee from
Indian government.
• Congress refused any such commitment but
Muslims league was quick to respond.
• This led to the division of India
• Time proved British predction
 Cultural and religious differences of Hindus & Muslims

• This concept was created just before and after the creation
of Pakistan with strong backing from establishment and
military
• Different culture and religion are the main reasons of this
division
• This concept was politically used before 1946 elections and
later on from 1952 onward by military establishment
• Since 1978 onward this concept received Pakistani military
support which used this to consolidate their rule over
messes by applying the old British formula “divide and rule”.
• Today this ideology has created a complete fragmentation &
chaos.