1. The Indian Sub-Continent Since 1947
Pakistan
& India

2. Independence
The sub-continent was “partitioned” prior to independence to avoid a civil war between the Hindus & the Muslims
The areas with a Hindu majority became India with Jawaharlal Nehru serving as the first Prime Minister beginning August 15, 1947
The 2 areas with Muslim majorities became Pakistan with Muhammad Ali Jinnah as Prime Minister August 14, 1947

3. India
India is the world’s largest democracy, 2nd most populous country in the world
After independence the nation had many problems to deal with
Angry Hindus felt that too much had been given up to Pakistan, led to the assassination of the Mahatma
Border disagreements with Pakistan- last to this day in Kashmir & the Siachen Glacier-both nations have nuclear weapons now

4. India Cont’d
Developing a strong economy- The Green Revolution of the 1960s helped India develop stronger crops & feed the population with fewer farmers
Terrorism- Several groups have operated within India, Sikhs (religious minority) & the Tamil Tigers in Southern India fought until recently, Al Qaida & the Taliban have launched attacks in the last 5 years

5. 1st Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru served as Prime Minister from
His leadership stressed democracy, unity, & economic modernization
The 1950 Constitution outlawed the untouchables within the Caste System

6. Indian Leadership
Indira Gandhi-Nehru’s daughter- served four terms as Prime Minister between
She was assassinated by her Sikh body guards in retaliation for an attack on the Golden Temple at Amritsar

7. Indian Leadership Cont’d
Rajiv Gandhi took over as Prime Minister after his mother’s assassination in 1984
Lost power in 1989 after accusations of corruption
Killed by a car bomb while campaigning in 1991

8. Pakistan
Muhammad Ali Jinnah serves as first Prime Minister of Pakistan from

9. Pakistan Cont’d
West Pakistan had the capitol, Islamabad & all government offices
East Pakistan had a majority of the population but was virtually ignored by the central government
The only link between the 2 regions was religion

10. Civil War
1970 a giant cyclone & tsunami hit East Pakistan killing 266,000 people
Tons of international aid went to West Pakistan but it was not sent to East Pakistan very quickly
March 26, 1971 East Pakistan declares itself the independent nation of Bangladesh
India sided with Bangladesh & within 2 weeks of the arrival of Indian troops Pakistan surrendered
1,000,000 people died in the civil war

11. Pakistan Leadership Ali Bhutto took power after the civil war in 1971
The death of Jinnah within a year of independence left Pakistan without strong leadership
There have been multiple military coups the first in 1958
Ali Bhutto took power after the civil war in 1971
He was deposed & then executed by Gen. Zia in 1977
Zia dies in a plane crash in 1988

12. Pakistan in Disarray
General Parvez Musharraf takes power in a military coup in 1999
He resigned in August 2008 during impeachment movements by the 2 leading parties
Benazir Bhutto-Ali Bhutto’s daughter-took power after Gen. Zia’s death
She was removed from office in 1996 after corruption charges
Killed by a car bomb in December 2008 while campaigning after returning to Pakistan

13. Pakistan Today
Benazir Bhutto’s party won the general elections in February 2009
Her husband Asif Ali Zardari served as Prime Minister until 2013
Pakistan is a hot bed of terrorist activity, especially Waziristan along the Afghan border

14. Bangladesh Achieved independence in 1971
It is one of the most densely populated nations and has suffered from military coups, natural disasters, & a high poverty rate since independence
The first Prime Minister-Sheik Mujibur Rahman was assassinated by military leaders in 1975
Democracy was restored in 1991
GDP has doubled since 1975 so life is slowly improving

15. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka gained independence in February 1948
75% of the population are Buddhist Sinhalese
25% are Hindu Tamils
Tamil Tigers just surrendered in 2009 ending the civil war
The Sri Lankan government is trying to figure out how to reintegrate the rebel fighters into society

16. Nepal The one of the newest democratic republics in the world
June 1, 2001 Crown Prince Dipendra killed most of the royal family in a drunken rage
The King’s brother Gyanendra became king
He abolished the parliament in 2005
Parliament was re-established in 2006
The monarchy was abolished in May 2008

17. Afghanistan Dominated by Britain & Russia during the 19th century
Became an independent nation with a monarchy in 1919 after the British left
1964 attempted to develop a democratic government but groups could not agree on reforms
Afghanistan

18. Afghanistan cont’d 1973 Military coup overthrows the king
1978 Communists overthrow the military
Afghanis felt communism conflicted with Islam
1979 USSR invades Afghanistan to support communists
U.S. supports the mujahedeen fighting against the USSR & communists
1989 USSR pulls out of Afghanistan

19. Civil War in Afghanistan
Several groups fight for control of Afghanistan
1998 Conservative Islamic extremists the Taliban control 90% of the country
Northern Alliance is the only rival left to fight them
Society changed overnight- women no longer allowed to work or go to school, women must wear burkas in public, music, dancing, TV, & movies are outlawed

20. Links to Terrorism Taliban allowed al-Qaeda to set up training camps
September 9, 2001 leader of the Northern Alliance assassinated
September 11, 2001 al-Qaeda attacks NYC & Washington, D.C.
October 2001 U.S. forces attack & invade Afghanistan
Taliban government falls apart by Dec. 2001
U.S. forces are in the process of leaving Afghanistan