As in India, most of the people of Pakistan live in farming villages. Almost all Pakistanis are Muslims, and prayers are an important part of daily life.
Tradition also plays an important role in their lives. For example, women generally have far fewer freedoms and economic opportunities than do men. Many women avoid contact with men outside the home and cover their faces with a veil in the presence of strangers.
Islam holds Pakistan together, but other forces threaten to split it apart. About 60 percent of Pakistanis speak Punjabi or a Punjabi variant, but Urdu, which is spoken by only about 8 percent of the people, is the official language. Disputes among different ethnic groups often turn violent.
Tensions rose when Pakistan allowed American and other foreign troops to use its territory as a base for removing the Taliban government from neighboring Afghanistan in 2001. Periodic demonstrations and terrorist attacks changed the control of the military government.
