PAKISTANA Brief History – Immigration Perspective

Dylan PereseWendy White

April, 2012

Major Events Originally a British colony, partitioned in 1947

Pakistan & India India and Pakistan fought two wars (1947-48,

1965) over the disputed Kashmir territory 1956 – Republic (military rule) by Maj. Gen.

Iskander Mirza 1971: Bangladesh created from East Pakistan Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan 1979

US & Pakistan on common ground Pakistan conducts nuclear tests, 1998 Shaky government through the 80s/90s Benazir Bhutto assassinated in 2007 Current president - Asif Ali Zardari

Relevant Info

Largely Muslim (97 %) Capital - Islamabad Official language = Urdu

Punjabi also spoken Population = 190,291,129

people Population growth rate = 1.551

%/yr. Migration rate = -2

migrants/1,000 people (2012) Unemployment = 7.7 %

Life in Pakistan Today• Comprised of many diverse cultures/ethnic groups•Heavily influenced by remnants of Persian Empire •Distinct Islamic Identity•Adheres to many cultural traditions•Close-knit family structure (live together. No running water/electricity typical of lower-middle class family)

City-Life - Vendors

Estimated 30 % live below the Poverty Line

60 % of population lives on less than $ 2.00/day

Cold War Connection Three Distinct Phases

Cold War PeriodAid in ContainmentGeographic LocationIn U.S sphere of influence

Crisis Period (1990-1993)Retain nuclear weaponProliferation

RRR (repairing, rebuilding, redefining)In wake of 9/11

(http://www.defencejournal.com/april98/pakistanus.htm)

Important Dates`1947: Independence1971: Civil War & partitioning1985: US Passes the Pressler Ammendment to track nuclear threats

nuclear program causes tension in international relations2001: Bush forges new relationship with Pakistan – military base/allied force2007: Assassination of President Benazir Bhutto 2008: Concerns over curbing terrorism2011: Osama Bin Laden

Potential Reasons to Leave Literacy = 50 % as of 2005

Workforce = 42 % agriculture, 38 % service, 20 % industry – limited options

Politically unstable Kashmir territorial dispute Terrorism (9/2008 Truck

Bomb killed 50) Internal

Strife/Disagreement Kashmir Region

Education/Health are a low priority for the government

Poor Quality of Higher Education Lack of unity between branches

of government

In the News

9/11 – Close ties with Afghanistan's Taliban government

Osama Bin Laden Territorial Dispute –

ongoing, Kashmir region; this territorial dispute led to war in 1949, 1965, 1971, 1999, and remains unresolved today.

Life in America

Immigration Issues Time to become a citizen See Interview

Discrimination Ignorance 9/11 – Stigma

Anti-American Sentiment before coming (from back home)

Disillusioned by Obama & “Afpak” "Pakistan is a nuclear state.

Pakistan is battling Talibans. Pakistan does not want to be put in the same category as Afghanistan”

http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2009/05/crisis-pakistan-minnesota-experts-express-worries-and-warnings

Connection to Minnesota

May 2009 Exodus from NW Pakistan 2 Million Fled American Refugee Committee steps in

Water/first aid, ties to American Islamic organizations Goal to keep them away from extremists until climate

cools down Not a major minority group here now

http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2009/05/crisis-pakistan-minnesota-experts-express-worries-and-warnings

Works Consulted

http://www.coldwarstudies.com/2011/05/02/cold-war-timeline-pakistan/

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107861.html?pageno=13

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0860197.html

http://www.defencejournal.com/april98/pakistanus.htm

http://www.jstor.org/stable/1901531 http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/tr

avel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/pakistan/

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0212302/pakistan.html

http://blogs.sacbee.com/photos/2010/06/images-of-daily-life-in-pakist.html

http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2009/05/crisis-pakistan-minnesota-experts-express-worries-and-warnings