Pakistan Studies/Affairs MCQs
Topic Notes: Pakistan Studies/Affairs
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
21
The 'Niazi' era of foreign policy (2018-2022) focused heavily on 'Internationalizing' Kashmir after 2019 through which primary forum?
Answer:
UN General Assembly and UN Security Council
Following India's 2019 move, the government led by Imran Khan used the UN General Assembly platform and successfully lobbied for multiple closed-door meetings of the UN Security Council on Kashmir for the first time in decades, aiming to put the issue back on the global agenda.
22
Which amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan merged FATA with KP in 2018, a move that India occasionally comments on in the context of territorial changes?
Answer:
25th Amendment
The 25th Amendment abolished the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as a separate entity and merged them into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This was a historic administrative change that extended the Pakistani judicial and constitutional system to the tribal regions, often discussed in regional geopolitics alongside changes in Kashmir's status.
23
The 'Sir Creek' dispute, although separate, is often linked to the Kashmir issue in bilateral talks. Sir Creek is a tidal estuary in which area?
Answer:
Rann of Kutch (Sindh/Gujarat border)
Sir Creek is a 96-km strip of water in the Rann of Kutch marshlands. The dispute centers on whether the boundary lies in the middle of the channel or on the eastern bank. The resolution is critical for defining the maritime boundaries and the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the Arabian Sea.
24
In the 1950s, which issue was the primary cause of the failure of the UN-appointed mediators (like Sir Owen Dixon) to resolve the Kashmir dispute?
Answer:
Disagreement over the withdrawal of troops and the plebiscite conditions
UN mediators in the 1950s, including Sir Owen Dixon and Frank Graham, failed primarily because Pakistan and India could not agree on the 'demilitarization' of the region. India refused to withdraw its troops to the level demanded by the UN, arguing it was necessary for the security of the territory it controlled.
25
Which Pakistani city was declared as South Asia's cleanest city in 2025, an achievement used by the state to project a 'Green Pakistan' image internationally?
Answer:
Islamabad
Islamabad was ranked as the cleanest city in South Asia in 2025. This achievement in urban management is part of Pakistan's broader effort to lead in environmental and climate diplomacy, particularly as it seeks to highlight its vulnerability to climate change in international forums like COP.
26
What is the name of the main regional political alliance in Indian-administered Kashmir that demands the restoration of Article 370?
Answer:
Gupkar Alliance (PAGD)
The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is a coalition of several regional Kashmiri political parties formed in 2020. They are united by the common goal of restoring the pre-August 2019 constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, serving as a significant domestic voice against the central government's actions.
27
The 'Indus Waters Treaty' (1960) gives Pakistan exclusive rights to the waters of which three western rivers flowing through Kashmir?
Answer:
Indus, Jhelum, Chenab
The 1960 treaty allocates the three western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—to Pakistan. Since these rivers originate in or flow through Indian-administered Kashmir, their management and India's construction of hydroelectric projects (like Kishanganga and Ratle) are central points of technical and diplomatic dispute between the two nations.
28
Which organization's report in 2024 highlighted that 'internet shutdowns' in Kashmir have cost the local economy billions of dollars?
Answer:
Internet Society / Access Now
Groups like 'Access Now' have documented that the prolonged and frequent internet shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019 are among the longest in history. These shutdowns are cited as a major barrier to the fundamental right to information and have severely hampered education and digital business in the region.
29
In October 2024, the Foreign Minister of India visited Islamabad for the first time in nine years to attend which summit?
Answer:
SCO Council of Heads of Government
S. Jaishankar visited Islamabad in October 2024 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting. While no formal bilateral talks on Kashmir were held, his presence was significant as it was the first such visit by an Indian Foreign Minister since 2015, highlighting the role of multilateralism in regional engagement.
30
The 'United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan' (UNMOGIP) was established following which war?
Answer:
1947-48 War
UNMOGIP was established in 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. While India argues that the mission's role ended with the 1972 Simla Agreement, Pakistan continues to host and facilitate UNMOGIP observers, viewing them as a symbol of the UN's ongoing responsibility for the dispute.