Pakistan

Overview

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan extends along either side of the historic Indus River, following its course from the mountain valleys of the Himalayas down to the Arabian Sea. Bordering on India, China, Afghanistan and Iran, it is strategically located astride the ancient trade routes between Asia and Europe.

Pakistan has a lot to offer to the exploring traveler. In the south you'll find beautiful beaches, lagoons and mangrove forests. The high uprising peaks of the Himalayan, the Karakorams and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges dominate the north, with the K2 (8611 m.) as a final challenge to alpinists. Without doubt this is one of the most beautiful mountain regions in the world. The Karakoram Highway which runs over the over the Khunjerab pass and leads from Islamabad via Gilgit, Hunza valley and Passu to Kashgar in China is an unforgetable way to see this region. The nearby Valleys of Chitral , Swat and Skardu are extremely beautiful as well. Landscapes in the north range from Swiss style mountain scenery to what you can expect to see on the moon.

Between the mountains in the North and the sandy beaches in the South, there are all sorts of landscapes from harsh deserts and green valleys to fertile plains and desolate plateaus.

In the Mounatins of Himalaya in North West Frontier Province and Northern Punjab you can find one of the finest pine forests & in coastal areas you can find mangroves Forests.

Pakistan has the longest glaciers in the world outside the polar regions...more

History

The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan have fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing, but recent discussions and confidence-building measures may be a start toward lessened tensions.