Pakistan: The Oldest Living History
Posted on 28. Jan, 2011 by Jawad Raza in Pakistan
By Jawad Raza Khan
Different politico-social analysts of the world, opines in a different manner about division of India, some relates it to the failure of All 
India Congress, some narrate it as adventurism of Mr Jinnah and indeed some of them thinks that British were found wanting in this regard. At the time of independence 14th August 1947, whatever came to Pakistan in terms of resources to run the country was less than meager, the only thing in abundance were more than 6 million refugees. It was the world’s largest migration ever recorded. The question arises than why Pakistan is such an important nation to the world, how and why a depleted Pakistan is still living and be able to safeguard its integrity as a nation. The answer lies in the history of Pakistan.
Creation of Pakistan has been done through ages even well before the existence of Pakistan’s Islamic ideology. Presence of two great cities Moen-jo-Daro and Harrappa, along the great river Indus, more than 5000 years ago bears the testimony of existence of Pakistan since then. It was the Bronze Age civilization which became the first step towards creation of a nation.
Another glorious era which gave sense of oneness in this part of the world was 2nd century BC. It was the era of Kushan Dynasty and to be particular the King Kanishka, his main capital was at Purushpura (Peshawar in present day north-western Pakistan) with regional capitals at the location of the modern city of Taxila in Pakistan, Begram in Afghanistan and Mathura in India. The Gandhara civilization of this period meets the Indus valley civilization with open arms at the Grand Trunk road at Hassan Abdal. This was yet another development towards creation of one nation.
The Arabsduring early 7th century established the city of Mansura, and Mahfuza these two cities became major cultural, economic
centers in Sindh. Mansura produced the first translation of the Quran in the Sindhi language; it was used widely throughout the Indus region. The city was the hometown of famous historical figures such as Sind ibn Ali he introduced the Arabic numerals.This was the first ever amalgamation of Islamic thoughts and values to these ancient civilizations, and from here the concept of interfaith harmony and ideological Pakistan in Islamic perspective got its roots cemented within their culture.
In most of the recorded history, there are always civilizationswhich turn into nations. Nations without ideologies in front, and civilizations at their back, merely breathes on this planet. By any stretch of imagination Pakistan cannot be included in the above mentioned category, so any prediction regarding Pakistan as a failed State is bound to go into doldrums. We as Pakistanis have a long history and traditional values in our rich culture, which we are carrying since 50 centuries. We were a developed state even before the ancient Egypt and Peru civilizations. What all is required from us is to train and tame the younger generation for their better future as Pakistanis.
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Jawad Raza Khan
Rehmat
28. Jan, 2011
It's going overboard calling the old Indus Civilization as the begining of the creation of a Muslim-majority Pakistan. Indus Civilization certainly is a Pakistani heritage but it was based on an idol-worshipping Buddhist society.
Islamic civilization in Indian sub-continent began with the establishment of a Muslim colony in the current Sindh province of Pakistan by the 17-year-old Arab commander Tariq in 712 CE. Later it was boosted by the arrival of Muslim preachers and traders who converted tens of thousands of local Hindus to Islam through their piety and honesty.
A sort of Pakistan did exist during the rules of Sultan Mohammad Tuglaq and Emperor Aurengzeb, however, the old dream took its name on August 14, 1947. Unfortunately, it's still remains a dream, because we can call Pakistan by any name, but it certainly is not an Islamic State.
Zubair
29. Jan, 2011
The problem with us is that when we talk about Pakistan as an ancient nation, we add the word Islamic to it. Thus according to Rehmat, Indus Valley heritage was based on idol worshiping and therefore cannot be Pakisyani heritage. May I say that Islam is barely 1432 years old . Before that, most of the world was inhabited by non Muslims—-call them whatever you like. I cannot deny my ancestors just because they were not Muslims. My ancestors inhabited this great valley long before Islam and they gave the first planned cities and many more to the world. The existance of Pakistan before 1947 is based to the simple fact that the Indus Valley has allways been a compltetly separate entity from the presnt day India—-ie. Ganga, Jamna and other Vallies in the East. Indus valley had never, in known history, been ruled by any ruler from the East. All known heros, now claimed by Bharat belonged to Indus valley. You can actually count them. Kanishka, Chandra Gupta Mauriya and of course the great Porus who defeated the so called great Alexandar. We can add great philosophers like Kotaliya to the elite of the Indus Valey. THAT is what makes this valley a separate entity from Bharat. The fact that Muhamnmad Bin Qasim came and spread Islam is a process of history. However, the Indus Valley did not acquire a separate entity BECAUSE of Muhmmad the conqueror. Our name may not have been Pakistan but we have never been "part" of what is now called India. In fact even the word "India" has been hijacked by the cunning Brahmans. It depicts Indus river and has nothing whtsoever to do with the present day Bharat.