巴基斯坦(Pakistan)
正式名称巴基斯坦伊斯兰共和国（Islamic Republic of Pakistan）
亚洲南部国家。面积796,095平方公里。人口约144,617,000（2001，不含阿富汗难民）。首都︰伊斯兰马巴德。人口为各种原住民的复杂组合，已受到来自西北的雅利安人、波斯人、希腊人、普什图人、蒙兀儿人和阿拉伯人相继涌入的影响。语言：乌尔都语（官方语）、旁遮普语、普什图语、信德语和俾路支语。宗教：伊斯兰教（国教）、印度教和基督教。货币：巴基斯坦卢比（PRs）。地形可划分为四个地区：大高地、俾路支高原、印度河平原和沙漠地区。喜马拉雅山脉和外喜马拉雅山脉构成了广阔的高地，绵亘於该国最北部；其中包括一些世界最高峰，如K2峰和南伽山。属开发中的混合型经济，以农业、轻工业和服务业为主。失业现象十分普遍，移民使劳动力匮乏，在海外工作的巴基斯坦人汇回国的款项是该国外汇的重要来源。政府形式为伊斯兰教共和国，两院制。国家元首是总统，政府首脑为总理。
早在西元前3500年左右，即有人居住。西元前3世纪到西元2世纪时，分别由孔雀帝国和贵霜王国统治。8世纪时，穆斯林首次征服之。1757年英国征服了蒙兀儿王朝的统治。在英国殖民统治期间，现在的巴基斯坦（穆斯林）属於印度（多数为印度教徒）。1947年英国国会批准巴基斯坦独立。但喀什米尔仍是巴基斯坦和印度之间最有争议的地区，最後导致军事冲突，并在1965年全面开战。1971年爆发了东、西巴基斯坦之间的内战，结果於1972年成立独立的孟加拉国（前东巴基斯坦）。1980年代苏联和阿富汗战争期间造成许多阿富汗难民逃到巴基斯坦。1988年布托巴基斯坦出现第一位女总理，带领了这个现代的伊斯兰教国家，但她在1990年被迫下台，同年她的政党在选举中败给了一个保守派联盟。1990年代的政局多变，与印度的边界纠纷再起，巴基斯坦并举行核子试爆。政治状况越来越糟，1999年发生了一起军队政变。
English version：
Pakistan
Nation, southern Asia. Area: 307,374 sq mi (796,095 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 136,183,000. Capital: Islamabad. The population is a complex mix of indigenous peoples that have been affected by successive waves of Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Pashtuns, Mughals, and Arabs. Languages: Urdu (official), Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi. Religions: Islam (official), Hinduism, Christianity. Currency: Pakistan rupee. Pakistan may be divided into four regions: the great highlands, the Baluchistan Plateau, the Indus Plain, and the desert areas. The Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan ranges form the great highlands, in the northernmost part of the country; some of the highest peaks are K2 and Nanga Parbat. It has a developing mixed economy based largely on agriculture, light industries, and services. Unemployment is widespread and emigration has depleted the workforce; remittances from Pakistanis working abroad are a major source of foreign exchange. It is an Islamic republic with two legislative houses; its chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. The area has been inhabited since c. 3500 BC. From the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD, it was part of the Mauryan and Kushan kingdoms. The first Muslim conquests were in the 8th century AD. The British East India Co. subdued the reigning Mughal dynasty in 1757. During the period of British colonial rule, what is now (Muslim) Pakistan was part of (Hindu) India. The new state of Pakistan came into existence in 1947 by act of the British Parliament. Kashmir remained a disputed territory between Pakistan and India, resulting in military clashes and full-scale war in 1965. Civil war between East and West Pakistan in 1971 resulted in independence for Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) in 1972. Many Afghan refugees migrated to Pakistan during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. Pakistan elected Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to head a modern Islamic state, in 1988. She was ousted in 1990 when her party was defeated by a conservative coalition. During the 1990s conditions were volatile. Border flare-ups with India continued and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests. Political conditions worsened and the army carried out a coup in 1999.