Did Pakistan Used To Be Part Of India?

Yes, Pakistan used to be part of India under British colonial rule. Before 1947, the entire region—including what is now India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh—was known as British India, governed by the British Empire for nearly two centuries. In 1947, the British decided to end their rule and split the territory into two independent countries: a predominantly Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan. This division, known as the Partition of India, was implemented through the Indian Independence Act, which came into effect on August 15, 1947.

The partition created two separate nations: the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Pakistan initially included two geographically separated regions—West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The split was based largely on religious demographics, with Muslim-majority areas forming Pakistan and Hindu-majority areas remaining with India.

Partition triggered one of the largest mass migrations in history, with an estimated 12–20 million people crossing borders and up to two million losing their lives due to violence and upheaval. The legacy of this event continues to shape the relationship between India and Pakistan today.