February 11, 2009 4:24 PM
- Text
Pakistan Celebrates 60 Years Of Statehood
(CBS)
This story was written by Farhan Bokhari, reporting for CBS News in Pakistan.
Pakistanis filled the streets Tuesday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their country's independence.
The country was a part of a unified India, under British rule, until 1947. Now, the south Asian country is full of bold expectations for a prosperous future, but faces daunting security challenges.
Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf set the pace for a day of celebrations in the capital city of Islamabad with a message on Monday, Independence Day-eve, urging Pakistanis to overcome their differences, and predicting greater prosperity in the years to come.
The president's remarks were overshadowed, however, by discreet warnings from senior security officials of the possibility of attacks by hardcore militants opposed to the government's support for the U.S.-led war on terror.
Security was tight Tuesday, prompting western diplomats in Islamabad, to stay indoors. But regular Pakistanis flooded the streets to celebrate the day, creating a carnival-like atmosphere.
Independence Day celebrations began with the boom of artillery guns firing off a ceremonial salute in the capital, and the capitals of Pakistan's four provinces. Some eager revelers started earlier, shattering the night's silence with pop of frequent fire crackers on the streets.
In the days running up to Tuesday, stalls were set up on main streets across Pakistan, selling a range of celebratory paraphernalia ranging from the Pakistani flag — bearing a crescent and star on a green and white background — to banners inscribed with nationalistic slogans.
For an entire generation, the creation of the country in 1947 also marks the beginning of a tragic period during which an estimated quarter of a million, to one million people have died in riots between Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus.
The migration of Muslims to the newly created state of Pakistan remains to this day the largest known mass movement of its kind in history.
Gen. Musharraf is himself the son of Muslim parents who migrated from Delhi — the present-day Indian capital. The journey to the new state was not without risk.
"It was a train journey, and my mother was very worried because dead bodies… there were dead people who could be seen on platforms where the train would stop", said Musharraf during his nationally televised speech on Monday.
India was declared an independent state a day after Pakistan. India will celebrate its own six decades of independence on Wednesday.
During 60 years of separation, India and Pakistan have fought at least three wars and many smaller skirmishes, mainly over territory — namely, the predominantly-Muslim Himalayan state of Kashmir.
In 1998, the military balance between India and Pakistan was evened out when Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests and emerged as the world's newest nuclear armed state. India was already in that category.
The position of India and Pakistan as nuclear states has raised concerns in Western capitals over the danger of a nuclear exchange in south Asia. But supporters of Pakistan's nuclear program claim that some stability, in terms of having a mutual deterrent, is provided by the weapons.
In the past three years, India and Pakistan have gradually pursued a new peace process, raising hopes in the region and in the West of an eventual normalization in relations.
The key challenge faced by Pakistan now is Islamic militancy on its own soil. Hardline groups including al Qaeda and the Taliban have carved-out safe havens in areas near the border with Afghanistan. But Tuesday, in the midst of Independence Day celebrations, many Pakistanis were eager to celebrate history, and forget their grievances for at least a moment.
"I am proud to be a Pakistani. When Pakistan was created, many people thought we could not survive for long and here we have survived for so long," said Tariq Mehmood, a college student in Islamabad told CBS News. "Let us remember that it is Pakistan which gives us a sense of nationhood and reason for optimism."
Farhan Bokhari has been covering southeast Asia for several large European news organizations for 16 years. Based in Islamabad, his focus is security issues, in particular al Qaeda and the regional aspects of the global fight against terrorism.
Pakistanis filled the streets Tuesday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their country's independence.
The country was a part of a unified India, under British rule, until 1947. Now, the south Asian country is full of bold expectations for a prosperous future, but faces daunting security challenges.
Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf set the pace for a day of celebrations in the capital city of Islamabad with a message on Monday, Independence Day-eve, urging Pakistanis to overcome their differences, and predicting greater prosperity in the years to come.
The president's remarks were overshadowed, however, by discreet warnings from senior security officials of the possibility of attacks by hardcore militants opposed to the government's support for the U.S.-led war on terror.
Security was tight Tuesday, prompting western diplomats in Islamabad, to stay indoors. But regular Pakistanis flooded the streets to celebrate the day, creating a carnival-like atmosphere.
Independence Day celebrations began with the boom of artillery guns firing off a ceremonial salute in the capital, and the capitals of Pakistan's four provinces. Some eager revelers started earlier, shattering the night's silence with pop of frequent fire crackers on the streets.
In the days running up to Tuesday, stalls were set up on main streets across Pakistan, selling a range of celebratory paraphernalia ranging from the Pakistani flag — bearing a crescent and star on a green and white background — to banners inscribed with nationalistic slogans.
For an entire generation, the creation of the country in 1947 also marks the beginning of a tragic period during which an estimated quarter of a million, to one million people have died in riots between Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus.
The migration of Muslims to the newly created state of Pakistan remains to this day the largest known mass movement of its kind in history.
Gen. Musharraf is himself the son of Muslim parents who migrated from Delhi — the present-day Indian capital. The journey to the new state was not without risk.
"It was a train journey, and my mother was very worried because dead bodies… there were dead people who could be seen on platforms where the train would stop", said Musharraf during his nationally televised speech on Monday.
India was declared an independent state a day after Pakistan. India will celebrate its own six decades of independence on Wednesday.
During 60 years of separation, India and Pakistan have fought at least three wars and many smaller skirmishes, mainly over territory — namely, the predominantly-Muslim Himalayan state of Kashmir.
In 1998, the military balance between India and Pakistan was evened out when Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests and emerged as the world's newest nuclear armed state. India was already in that category.
The position of India and Pakistan as nuclear states has raised concerns in Western capitals over the danger of a nuclear exchange in south Asia. But supporters of Pakistan's nuclear program claim that some stability, in terms of having a mutual deterrent, is provided by the weapons.
In the past three years, India and Pakistan have gradually pursued a new peace process, raising hopes in the region and in the West of an eventual normalization in relations.
The key challenge faced by Pakistan now is Islamic militancy on its own soil. Hardline groups including al Qaeda and the Taliban have carved-out safe havens in areas near the border with Afghanistan. But Tuesday, in the midst of Independence Day celebrations, many Pakistanis were eager to celebrate history, and forget their grievances for at least a moment.
"I am proud to be a Pakistani. When Pakistan was created, many people thought we could not survive for long and here we have survived for so long," said Tariq Mehmood, a college student in Islamabad told CBS News. "Let us remember that it is Pakistan which gives us a sense of nationhood and reason for optimism."
Farhan Bokhari has been covering southeast Asia for several large European news organizations for 16 years. Based in Islamabad, his focus is security issues, in particular al Qaeda and the regional aspects of the global fight against terrorism.
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Tucker Reals Tucker Reals is a senior news editor and overnight site editor for CBSNews.com, based at CBS News' London bureau.
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