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"This book is an accessible, comprehensive, and nuanced history of Pakistan. It reflects upon state and society in Pakistan and shows they have been shaped by historical forces and personae. Hoodbhoy expertly maps the journey of the region from many millennia ago to the circumstances and impulses that gave birth to the very first state in history founded upon religious identity. He documents colonial rule, the trauma of Partition, the nation's wars with India, the formation of Bangladesh, and the emergence of Baloch nationalism. The book also examines longstanding complex themes and issues - such as religious fundamentalism, identity formation, democracy, and military rule - as well as their impact on the future of the state of Pakistan. Drawing on a range of sources and written by one of the foremost intellectuals of the region, this book will be indispensable for scholars, researchers, students of history, politics and South Asian studies. It will be of great interest to the general reader interested in understanding Pakistan"--

The title to this article seeks to find the answer in determining the state of leftist politics and thinking in Pakistan. First, the author summaries past Pakistani leftist activities, and then provides a regional comparison with those occurring in India. Next, the article discusses aspects from Pakistan's formative and early years; highlighting cultural, religious, and political ambitions and the articulation of Jinnah's "Two-Nation Theory"; and later the demand and call for economic justice and "Islamic socialism". Then the author looks at how General Zia transformed Pakistani society; opened the door to the current socio-political scene; raised nationalistic fervor; set the tone for terrorism and extremism within the nation; and exacerbated the disdain aimed at the U.S. and its security policies. The article utilizes a number of surveys, including a 2008 World Public Opinion poll in presenting the current tone of Pakistani society. Also, the article studies the negative aspects affecting Pakistani society, and then both addresses and opines on the options, solutions, and what needs to be done in the author's eyes. M. Diem