Pakistan

American  

[pak-uh-stan, pah-kuh-stahn] / ˈpæk əˌstæn, ˌpɑ kəˈstɑn /

noun

1. Islamic Republic of, a republic in S Asia, between India and Afghanistan: formerly part of British India; known as West Pakistan from 1947–71 to distinguish it from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). 310,403 sq. mi. (803,881 sq. km). Islamabad.

2. (before 1947) the predominantly Muslim areas of the peninsula of India as distinguished from Hindustan, the predominantly Hindu areas.

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Pakistan British  

/ ˌpɑːkɪˈstɑːn /

noun

1. a republic in S Asia, on the Arabian Sea: the Union of Pakistan, formed in 1947, comprised West and East Pakistan; East Pakistan gained independence as Bangladesh in 1971 and West Pakistan became Pakistan; a member of the Commonwealth from 1947, it withdrew from 1972 until 1989; contains the fertile plains of the Indus valley rising to mountains in the north and west Official language: Urdu. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: rupee. Capital: Islamabad. Pop: 193 238 868 (2013 est). Area: 801 508 sq km (309 463 sq miles)

2. a former republic in S Asia consisting of the provinces of West Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), 1500 km (900 miles) apart: formed in 1947 from the predominantly Muslim parts of India

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Pakistan Cultural  

1. Republic in southern Asia, bordered by India to the east, the Arabian Sea (an arm of the Indian Ocean) to the south, Iran to the southwest, and Afghanistan to the west and north.

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Discover More

Pakistan became part of British India in 1857. When India gained its independence in 1947, Muslim leaders demanded a separate Muslim state, and the nation of Pakistan was established. Originally, Pakistan consisted of two regions, West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

In 2001, Pakistan's president allowed the United States to use his country as a base to attack Afghanistan for harboring Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda members.

In 1998, Pakistan successfully conducted tests of nuclear weapons.

Example Sentences

Seventy-five Hindu couples from across the country get married at a mass wedding ceremony in Pakistan’s city of Karachi, organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council, which helps couples from low-income families.

From Barron's

Most meteorologists cite weakening westerly disturbances – low-pressure systems from the Mediterranean carrying cold air – as a key reason for reduced rainfall and occasional snow during winter in northern India, Pakistan, and Nepal.

From BBC

Zubaydah was first captured by the US in Pakistan in 2002, before being held for four years at a series of CIA "black sites" in six countries, including Lithuania and Poland.

From BBC

In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka muscled their way to a competitive 160 before choking Pakistan to 146-8.

From Barron's

One of the most recent notable land trades between states was Pakistan’s purchase of Gwadar, a port enclave in the country’s southwest, for $3 million from the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman in 1958.

From The Wall Street Journal