Geography
and
Geopolitics
Of
Pakistan
Pakistan’s Geography:
1. Pakistan is situated at the Northwestern side of the Indian
subcontinent.
2. Pakistan is one of the most important countries in the South Asian
region (the continent of Asia).
3. Pakistan has a land area of land area of 796,095 km². The
administrative structure of Pakistan presently comprises four
provinces; Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh
plus the Islamabad Capital Territory. Additionally, there are the two
parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir: Azad Jammu and Kashmir
and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Punjab (Provincial Capital: Lahore)
Punjab is the most populous and developed of the four provinces. Noted
for its arts and crafts, it is considered the cultural capital of Pakistan.
Covering an area of 97,192 square miles (205,346 sq. km), Punjab is
primarily a plain, though its north is bisected by the Salt Range,
composed of the Murree and Kahuta hills on the north side and the Pubbi
Hills of Gujrat in the south. The Potwar Plateau (1,000–2,000 feet; 305–
610 m) lies north of the Salt Range. It is primarily an agricultural area and
boasts one of the largest canal irrigation systems in the world.
Its capital, Lahore, is linked to most major events and movements in
Pakistan’s history. Situated on the left bank of the river Ravi, it is
bristling with monuments and buildings of great architectural and
historical note. These include the Badshahi Mosque, Emperor
Jahangir’s Mausoleum, and the Shalimar Gardens. Islamabad, the
nation’s capital, lies some 170 miles (275 km) north of Lahore.
Throughout the province forts, palaces, mosques, and other grand
edifices evidence the importance this region has long enjoyed. One of
South Asia’s earliest existing buildings with enameled tile work, the
mausoleum of Shah Yusuf Gardezi in Multan, was built here in 1152
c.e.
Sindh:
The life and economy of Sind flows on the current of the river Sindhu,
or Indus, for which the province is named and it is among the hottest
areas of Pakistan. Jacobabad, in the north of the province, is one of
the hottest places on earth. Comprising three divisions, the province
covers 54,198 square miles (140,914 sq. km). Sindhi, an ancient
language, is spoken by a great majority of the population.
The capital, Karachi, has been the nation’s primary seaport since the
1700s and is the largest city in Sindh. In addition to its position as a
trading center, Sind is also an industrial powerhouse, producing up to
half the nation’s goods in some manufacturing sectors. Rice, cotton,
and wheat give the province a strong agricultural base.
Important archaeological sites are scattered throughout Sindh. Just east
of Karachi, Bhambore marks the site of the seaport of Debal, where the
first Arab armies came ashore in 711 C.E. and began their conquests in
the region.
Thatta, the former provincial capital, was once a center of learning
and still contains notable historical architecture. About 60 miles (98
km) east of Karachi, it is also the site of the famed Makli Tombs, a
sprawling necropolis built between the 15th and 17th centuries.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa boasts the largest concentration of high peaks in the
world. Containing the restless tribal areas and situated astride key
mountain passes, including the Khyber Pass, KPK has long been an
untamed and strategic corner of the region. Most of the invaders who
swept into the area that is now Pakistan— including Alexander the
Great, Timur, Emperor Babur, and Mahmud of Ghazni—passed this
way on their journeys of conquest.
The province in its present configuration, covering 29,808 square
miles (74,521 sq. km), was created in 1901 and divided into “tribal”
and “settled” areas. The tribal areas are administered by the federal
government, while the settled areas are ruled by the fairly autonomous
provincial assembly, as are all the provinces.
Balochistan:
The largest of Pakistan’s four provinces 131,051 sq. miles; 347,190
sq. km, Balochistan is a generally inhospitable land, and its lack of
resources left it relatively undisturbed by regional powers for most of
its history. Its geography encompasses mountains, coastal plains, and
rocky deserts on its high plateau.
In the south, the Makran Range separates the coastal plain from the
interior, a region of highland basins and deserts.
Topography
To its south, west, north, and northeast, natural barriers of mountain and
sea have sheltered Pakistan. But to the southeast, the land spills out into
the Deccan, the vast peninsular homeland of India. The Indus River, and
its tributaries drain the plateau.
The land can be divided into five major regions: the Himalayan and
Karakoram ranges and their subranges; the Hindu Kush and western
mountains; the Balochistan plateau; the submontane plateau (Potwar
Plateau, Salt Range, trans-Indus plain, and Sialkot area); and the Indus
River plain.
The Arabian Sea forms Pakistan’s southern border.
Its western border is shared with Iran in the south and Afghanistan in the
north.
Along Pakistan’s northern border the slim arm of Afghanistan’s Wakhan
region separates Pakistan from Tajikistan.
China’s territories of Xinjiang and Tibet lie on Kashmir’s border to the
north and east. To Pakistan’s east are the Indian states of Punjab and
Rajasthan.
The Thar Desert serves as a barrier between these Indian lands and
Pakistan.
The Himalayas The Himalayas (meaning “the abode of snow” in
Sanskrit) extend in a long bow some 1,500 miles (2,400 km) across the
north end of the subcontinent, from the Indus River in the west to the
Brahmaputra River (which originates in Tibet and ends in the Bay of
Bengal) in the east. Four major ranges comprise the Himalayas: The
Outermost, or Sub-Himalayas, are the farthest south. Its low hills,
known as the Siwaliks, rise to about 3,000 feet (914 m). To the north lie
the Outer, or Lesser Himalayas, whose peaks average 14,000–15,000
feet (4,267–4,572 m). Behind the Pir Panjal Range of the Outer
Himalayas rise the Central, or Great Snowy Himalayas.
In the Karakoram Range, permanently snow-covered peaks average
20,000 feet (6,096 m) in height and include Mount Everest, the
world’s loftiest peak and in The Land and Its Early History Kashmir,
K2, the world’s second highest peak (28,251 feet; 8,611 m). North of
Pakistan’s border is the Ladakh Range, or Inner Himalayas. In
Pakistan’s northwest is the Hindu Kush (Hindu Killer) Range,
extending from the high plateau of Pamir, sometimes called the Roof
of the World, into Afghanistan. Tirich Mir is its highest peak (25,289
ft.; 7,708 m).
Western Mountains
Western Mountains in Balochistan, west of the Indus Plain, three
minor ranges run parallel south from the Hindu Kush to the Kabul
River, their valleys draining the Swat, the Panjikora, and the ChitralKunar Rivers.
The Safed Koh Range, which runs east–west, has peaks averaging
about 12,000 feet (3,657 m). The Khyber Pass, the most famous of the
high-elevation gateways to the subcontinent, cuts through its
mountains. About 33 miles (53 km) in length, the pass extends from
Jamrud.
South of the Gomal River the Sulaiman Mountains extend for 300 miles
(483 km). The main peak, Takht-i-Suleiman, is 11,100 feet (3,383 m).
The Bolan Pass is the most noted transit point of these mountains and the
Bolan their main river. The Pakistan city of Quetta guards the northern
end of the pass. From here the land descends to the Kirthar Hills, low
parallel ranges of some 7,000 feet (2,134 m) in elevation. They get little
monsoon rainfall and are barren. West of the Sulaiman and Kirthar
Mountains the land descends to the dry hills of the Balochistan Plateau,
running northeast to southwest at an elevation of about 1,000 feet (305
m). The coastal Makran range borders the south end of Pakistan’s western
boundary.
The Salt Range and the Potwar Plateau
The Salt Range extends from near Jhelum, on the Jhelum River,
northwest to the Indus River and then south into the districts of Bannu
and Dera Ismail Khan in the KPK. Its peaks average 2,200 feet (671 m)
in height, though they reach about 5,000 feet (1,524 m) near Sakesar. In
addition to extensive deposits of salt, its steep rock faces in the north
contain gypsum, coal, and other minerals.
The Potwar Plateau extends north of the Salt Range. The elevation
ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 feet (305–610 m). The landscape is varied,
shaped by glacial erosion.
The Indus Plain
The Indus Plain South of the Salt Range the vast Indus Plain, drained by
the Indus River and its tributaries, stretches to the Arabian Sea. The plain
is composed of fertile alluvial deposits left by the overflow of the rivers.
Several rivers in addition to the Indus traverse the Himalayan ranges.
Their enormous flows in the rainy season often flood the surrounding
plains. The northern part is called the Punjab and gives its name to the
province that occupies the land. Most of this area is in Pakistan. The
elevation here ranges from 600 to 1,000 feet (183–305 m).
Climate
Climate Generally arid, Pakistan lies in a warm temperate zone. The year
is popularly regarded as having three seasons: summer, rainy season, and
winter. Hot, summery weather lasts from April to September, and cold
winters stretch from October to March. Monsoon rains drench the region
from July to September. The northern and northwestern mountains have
very cold winters with frequent frosts and heavy snowfalls.
Summers are mild. On the plains to the south, the low elevation and
absence of sea breezes cause very hot summers. During summer days, dry
winds called loo blow. In the coastal areas to the south the Arabian Sea
provides a moderating influence, and temperature variations are less
extreme. The Balochistan Plateau has a climate similar to that of the
northern regions, though warmer in both summer and winter.
Pakistan’s Population:
■ The current population of Pakistan is 232,599,830 based on
Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
■ Pakistan population is equivalent to 2.83% of the total world
population.
■ Pakistan ranks number 5 in the list of countries (and dependencies)
by population.
■ The population density in Pakistan is 287 per Km2 (742 people per
mi2).
■ The total land area is 770,880 Km2 (297,638 sq. miles)
■ 35.1 % of the population is urban (77,437,729 people in 2020)
■ The median age in Pakistan is 22.8 years.
Pakistan’s relations with neighbouring countries:
China
1951
The two countries establish diplomatic relations
1963
Pakistan and China concludes boundary agreement through peaceful
negotiations
1964
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) starts its flights to Beijing,
becoming the first non-communist country airline to fly from Beijing
1970
Pakistan facilitates first visit by US President Nixon to China, paving
way for the first ever US-China official contact
1978
The Karakoram Highway, a construction miracle, linking the
mountainous Northern Pakistan with Western China officially opens
1995
Agreement for Traffic in Transit is signed between the Governments of
Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
1999
The contract to jointly develop and produce JF-17 was signed
2013
Pakistan and China sign the landmark Memorandum of Understanding
on Cooperation for the Long-term Plan on China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor
2013
Pakistan awards a contract for construction and operation of Gwadar Port to
China
2016
China-Pakistan unveils the Long-term Plan of China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC
2018
Groundbreaking of Rashakai Special Economic Zone
2018
Pakistan launches Remote Sensing Satellite-1 (PRSS-1) from China’s
Jiuquan Satellite Centre
2019
Pakistan hosts the Third China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign
Ministers Dialogue in Islamabad
India
1947 – Britain, as part of its pullout from the Indian subcontinent, divides it into
secular (but mainly Hindu) India and Muslim Pakistan on August 15 and 14
respectively.
1947/48 – The first India-Pakistan war over Kashmir is fought
1965 – India and Pakistan fight their second war. The conflict begins after a
clash between border patrols in April in the Rann of Kutch (in the Indian state of
Gujarat), but escalates on August 5, when between 26,000 and 33,000 Pakistani
soldiers cross the ceasefire line dressed as Kashmiri locals, crossing into Indianadministered Kashmir.
1966 – On January 10, 1966, Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and
Pakistani President Ayub Khan sign an agreement at Tashkent (now in
Uzbekistan), agreeing to withdraw to pre-August lines and that economic and
diplomatic relations would be restored.
1971 – India and Pakistan go to war a third time, this time over East Pakistan.
The conflict begins when the central Pakistani government in West Pakistan,
led by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, refuses to allow Awami League leader Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, a Bengali whose party won the majority of seats in the 1970
parliamentary elections, to assume the premiership.
1988 – The two countries sign an agreement that neither side will attack the
other’s nuclear installations or facilities.
1998 – India detonates five nuclear devices at Pokhran. Pakistan responds by
detonating six nuclear devices of its own in the Chaghai Hills. The tests result
in international sanctions being placed on both countries. In the same year,
both countries carry out tests of long-range missiles.
1999 – Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee meets with Nawaz Sharif,
his Pakistani counterpart, in Lahore. The two sign the Lahore Declaration, the
first major agreement between the two countries since the 1972 Simla
Accord. Both countries reaffirm their commitment to the Simla Accord, and
agree to undertake a number of ‘Confidence Building Measures’ (CBMs).
1999- Kargil is the first armed conflict between the two neighbours
since they officially conducted nuclear weapons tests.
2001 – Tensions along the Line of Control remain high, with 38 people
killed in an attack on the Kashmiri assembly in Srinagar. Following
that attack, Farooq Abdullah, the chief minister of Indian-administered
Kashmir, calls on the Indian government to launch a full-scale military
operation against alleged training camps in Pakistan.
2007 – On February 18, the train service between India and Pakistan
(the Samjhauta Express) is bombed near Panipat, north of New Delhi.
Sixty-eight people are killed, and dozens injured.
2008- the Mumbai attacks.
2016 – India launches what it calls “surgical strikes” on “terrorist
units” in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in September, less than
two weeks after an attack on an Indian army base leaves 19 soldiers
dead. Pakistan denies the attacks took place.
2019 – In the early hours of February 26, India conducts air attacks
against what it calls Pakistan-based rebel group Jaish-e-Mohammad
(JeM)’s “biggest training camp”, killing “a very large number of
terrorists”.
Afghanistan:
September 1947: Afghanistan became the ONLY country to vote against Pakistan’s
membership of United Nations.
December 1979: Soviet secret service KGB assassinated Afghanistan’s President
Hafizullah Amin and nearly 100,000 Soviet forces entered Afghanistan. Babrak Karmal
was installed as President by Soviets who pledged to free the ‘holy land of Pashtunistan’
(from Pakistan).
1982
Some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from the war to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million
have fled to Iran. Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold
urban areas.
1986 The Mujahadeen are receiving arms from the United States,
Britain and China via Pakistan.
1989 The U.S., Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Soviet Union sign
peace accords in Geneva guaranteeing Afghan independence and
the withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops.
Sept. 11, 2001 Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them
into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, the Pentagon outside
Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania field, killing thousands. Days later, U.S.
officials say bin Laden, the Saudi exile believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, is the
prime suspect in the attack.
2005 The nation holds its first parliamentary elections in more than 30 years. The
peaceful vote leads to the parliament’s first meeting in December.
Aug. 15, 2021 The Afghanistan government collapses as the Taliban
takes over Kabul.
Aug. 30, 2021 The U.S. transports a final contingent of troops from
Kabul Airport, officially ending America’s longest war.
Iran:
Iran was one of the first countries to recognize Pakistan when it became an
independent state in 1947. A diplomatic relationship formed in 1948.
1965-1971 Iran supports Pakistan during war with India Tehran was one of the
few capitals that openly supported Pakistan in its war against India in September
1965.
1979 Iranian revolution In February 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s
Islamic revolution overthrew the Shah’s dynasty and the Shia cleric became the
Rehbar-e-Aala. The same year, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Pakistan
and Iran both supported the Afghan mujahideen in their fight against the
communist power.
1990s Rifts over Taliban government in Afghanistan After the Soviet
withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban formed their government in
1996. Pakistan’s support for the Taliban, a Pashtun Sunni group,
however, put Islamabad and Tehran in two camps.
2017 Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that Pakistan would act
as facilitator of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia after US President
Donald Trump asked for Islamabad’s help in defusing tensions in the
Middle East.