Pakistan

Pakistan is a young country with ancient roots. It came into existence in 1947 amid one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century -- the partition of India. This new country was envisioned as a land for Muslims living in India, who were a minority group among the dominant Hindus. The Indian Muslims felt a need for their own land, which was created by redrawing the national boundary lines of India and essentially lopping off parts of it to be a new nation -- Pakistan. But while this new country rejoices in the uniting power of Islam, that alone has not been enough to provide peace and stability. The peoples, cultures, and languages that make up Pakistan are many. Even among the 96% of Pakistanis who are Muslims, the interpretation and living expression of their religion differs. The political situation since the country was established has been full of conflict, with elected leaders being deposed every few years. - p. 5.