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Partition of India
Britain, as part of its pullout from the Indian subcontinent, divides it into two independent countries: secular (but mainly Hindu) India and Muslim Pakistan. The partition triggers one of the largest human migrations ever seen, and sparks riots and bloody massacres of refugees across the region. -
The first Indo-Pak war over Kashmir begins.
Armed Pakistani tribesmen called lackshars from Pakistan's North West Frontier Province invade the disputed territory of Kashmir in October 1947. The Maharaja, faced with an internal revolt as well an external invasion, requests the assistance of Indian armed forces. In return, he signs a referendum to ratify his accession to India. The war finally ends on January 1, 1949, with Pakistan controlling roughly 1/3rd of the area while India controls the rest. -
State assembly ratifies Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India.
The accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India is ratified by the state's constituent assembly with a unanimous vote. India and Pakistan had earlier agreed that the Maharaja's Instrument of Accession would have to be ratified by a referendum. -
Approval of constitution
The Jammu and Kashmir constituent assembly approves a constitution. India, from the point of the 1954 ratification and 1957 constitution, begins to refer to Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of the Indian union. -
Pakistan and India end their second war
The conflict between Pakistan and India originally broke out in April 1965 after border patrols clashed in the Rann of Kutch, and it escalated after Pakistani incursions across the LoC. Indian forces entered Pakistan at Lahore. Finally, on September 22, both sides agree to a UN-mandated ceasefire. -
Tashkent Agreement
Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Ayub Khan sign an agreement at Tashkent (now in Uzbekistan), agreeing to withdraw to pre-August lines and that economic and diplomatic relations would be restored. -
India and Pakistan go to war for a third time
The conflict begins when an election dispute leads to East Pakistani leaders backing a freedom struggle. India is involved after a pre-emptive Pakistani strike on its bases, prompting a coordinated air, land and sea assault. Pakistan surrenders at Dhaka after 13 days. -
India tests nuclear device
In May, India, under Gandhi, detonates a "peaceful nuclear explosive" called the "Smiling Buddha." The bomb was detonated on the army base, Pokhran Test Range (PTR), in Rajasthan by the Indian Army under the supervision of several key army officials, and it intimidated Pakistan while proving India's own strength without taking any lives. -
Agreement on nuclear installations
India and Pakistan sign an agreement that neither side will attack the other's nuclear installations or facilities. Both sides agree to share information on the latitudes and longitudes of all nuclear installations. After ratification, the two share this information on January 1 every year. -
Armed resistance to Indian rule in Kashmir begins
Armed resistance to Indian rule in the Kashmir valley begins. Muslim political parties, after accusing the state government of rigging the 1987 state legislative elections, form militant wings. Pakistan says that it gives its "moral and diplomatic" support to the movement. -
Pakistan has its first nuclear test
Pakistan performs its first successful public nuclear tests in five simultaneous underground tests at Ras Koh Hills in the Chagai District of Baluchistan Province. These tests were code-named Chagai-I, and with these tests Pakistan was able to declare itself a nuclear weapons state. -
Lahore Declaration
Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee meets with Nawaz Sharif, his Pakistani counterpart, in Lahore. The two sign the Lahore declaration, the first major agreement between the two countries since 1972. The gains are eroded, however, by the eruption of the Kargil war in 1999. -
Indian parliament attacked
An armed attack from Pakistan on the Indian parliament leaves 14 dead. India blames Pakistan-based militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad. Both militaries mass on the border. -
India redeploys troops from Kashmir and high-level talks are held
India redeploys 5,000 troops from Jammu and Kashmir, citing an "improvement" in the situation, but there remains no agreement on withdrawing forces from the Siachen glacier. In September, President Musharraf and PM Singh agree to put in place a joint anti-terrorism mechanism. -
Composite Dialogue Process resumes
In February, the two countries' foreign secretaries meet in Thimphu, Nepal, agreeing to restart peace talks "on all issues". India also announces it will share information with Pakistan regarding the 2001 Samjhauta Express bombing.
