A Controversy Over Territory

 The end of British rule in 1947 divided India  Each Indian state could decide if they wanted to join India or remain independent  Two new countries were created  India- Hindu  Pakistan- Muslim & separated into East & West  West & East Pakistan have a religious bond, but are separated by ethnic groups  About 1 million have died in the conflict, another 10 million have fled

 East Pakistan began to call for their own state, but the West opposed  War broke out in 1971  With help from India, East Pakistan won independence as Bangladesh

 Pakistan & Bangladesh have large, rapidly growing populations  Economies depend on agriculture  Low per capita income  High poverty rate  Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest countries

 8 th most populous country in the world  154 million people living in an area smaller than Wisconsin  Almost 40% of the population is under the age of 15

 The government has tried to help farmers increase their yield, but many people choose to follow traditional, less productive methods  Much of Pakistan is arid so farming mainly takes place along the Indus River  Bangladesh is directly affected by monsoons and cyclones

 Most factories are very small and lack resources needed for expansion  Fishing is vital to the economy of Bangladesh  Pakistan relies on textiles  Pakistan is slightly more industrialized

 Life revolves around family  Arranged marriages & large families are common  Most live in small villages in simple homes  Soccer & cricket are popular sports  Poetry is popular and readings can draw as many as a U.S. rock concert  Music & dance are popular

 Pakistan & Bangladesh have struggled politically since becoming independent  Corruption is a problem  Pakistan also battles with India over the area of Kashmir

 Kashmir was mainly Muslim, but its leader was Hindu  Muslim states had joined with Pakistan while Hindu states stayed with India  Instead of choosing sides, he tried to keep Kashmir independent, but eventually ceded it to India  India & Pakistan continue to fight over this area

 In 1998, India & Pakistan tested nuclear weapons  Today, it remains an unstable area and one of the most dangerous borders in the world  Priorities?  Both nations have high poverty rates and large populations  Resolving this conflict would help improve quality of life for all in the region