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Pakistan traces its history back to
2,500 years BC, when a highly developed civilization flourished in
the Indus Valley. Excavations at Harappa, Moenjodaro, Kot Diji and
Mehrgarh have brought to light, the evidence of an advanced
civilization existing even in more ancient times. Around 1,500 BC,
the Aryans overwhelmed this region and influenced the earlier
civilization, whose centre moved to the Ganges Valley, further east.
Later, the Persians occupied the northern region between 5th century
BC. and 2nd century AD. The Greeks came in 327 BC, under Alexander
of Macedonia, and passed through like a meteor. In 711 AD, the
Arabs, led by Muhammad Bin Qasim, landed at Debal near modern
Banbhore and ruled the lower half of Pakistan for 200 years. During
this time, Islam took roots in the soil and influenced the life,
culture and traditions of the people.
In the 10th century AD, began the systematic conquest of South Asia
by the Muslims from Central Asia, who ruled here upto the 18th
century. Then the British came and ruled for nearly a century over
what is Pakistan now. The Muslim revival began towards the end of
the 19th century when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a renowned Muslim leader
and educationist, launched a movement for intellectual renaissance
of the Muslims of South Asia. In 1930, well known poet-philosopher,
Allama Muhammad Iqbal, conceived the idea of a separate state for
the Muslims of South Asia. In 1940, a resolution was passed by the
All India Muslim League, demanding a separate independent home land
for the Muslims. After seven years of un-tiring struggle under the
brilliant leadership of Quaid-e-Azam (the great leader) Muhammad Ali
Jinnah, Pakistan emerged on the world map as a sovereign state, on
14th August, 1947.
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