Frontline Pakistan : The Struggle With Militant Islam - Arz-e-Pak

Timeline
1980 The USA removes sanctions on Pakistan. With the
help of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI),
the CIA launches its biggest ever covert operation
against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan.
April 1986 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s daughter Benazir returns
from exile to lead a campaign for restoration of
democracy.
August 1988 General Zia, the US ambassador and top Pakistan
army officials die in a mysterious air crash.
November 1988 Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan’s People’s Party wins
election. Benazir becomes the first woman in the
Muslim world to be elected as Prime Minister.
August 1990 Benazir is dismissed as Prime Minister on charges
of corruption. The USA imposes sanctions on
Pakistan for its nuclear weapons programme.
November 1990 Nawaz Sharif becomes Prime Minister after his
Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA) wins the
elections.
July 1993 President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif both resign under pressure from
military.
October 1993 Benazir returns to power for the second time.
October 1996 President Farooq Leghari dismisses the Bhutto
government amid corruption allegations.
February 1997 Nawaz Sharif returns as Prime Minister after his
Pakistan Muslim League party sweeps elections.
May 1998 Pakistan conducts its own nuclear tests after India
explodes several devices.
May 1999 Incursion by Pakistani-backed forces into the Kargil
region in Indian-controlled Kashmir triggers a new
conflict between the two countries. Their troops
clash in the mountains, raising fears of a nuclear
escalation. More than 1,000 people are killed on
both sides. Under US pressure, Pakistan pulls
back.
October 1999 General Pervez Musharraf seizes power,
overthrowing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Sharif
is sentenced to life imprisonment on hijacking and
terrorism charges. He is later sent into exile to Saudi
Arabia.
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