Pakistan

country in southern Asia bordering the Arabian Sea; originally comprising two parts—West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)—separated by about 1000 miles (1600 kilometers) of northern India; a dominion 1947–56, an Islamic republic since 1956, and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations 1956–72; formed from parts of former British India; capital Islamabad area 307,373 square miles (796,096 square kilometers), population 193,240,000 — see east pakistan, west pakistan