Pakistan
In it's present day geographical boundaries only came to be after centuries of inhabitance by nomadic tribesman and conquering armies that altered the boundaries since the birth of civilization to present era. A much larger land mass than what we know as current day Pakistan existed in several centuries B.C. The territory as was true also with Persia at that time came under mild Greek influence from the movement of Alexander the Great's armies from the Macedonian city-state west toward Punjab of present day Eastern Pakistan. His death in 323 B.C in Babylonia(present day Iraq) compelled the commanders of his large army which stretched a thousand miles to squabble for territorial rights across Alexander's empire. Under his rule, a policy of integration with the Arab and Persian societies was promoted, where troops inhabited the land and wed with the locals.
The Eastern outer limits of the Alexanderian region of conquest was Indo Punjab(Western Pakistan), so any Greek influence was less pronounced than was the case for areas farther to the west like the Arabian Peninsula and Persia(Iran).
The Indu Pakistani territory maintained an identity largely associated with the Mauryan Empire from the 4th to 2nd centuries B.C. where control was extended from the Central Asia frontier across the subcontinent of present day India. Under the Kushan empire, a blend of Indo European and locally led empire stretched from central Asia to India, with it's capital named Peshwar that served as a prominant position between distinctive Middle eastern and far East lands. Peshwar, chosen for it's central location along the trade routes that bore a large importance because it diverged in two directions for mechant travelers, southward to India for spices or northward to China for silk. This area, located amongst the Indus River region, accommodated rich farmland attributable to the main waterway and it's five tributaries diverting to the North. This history and geographical prominence set a divide of the Middle East social environs from that of the far eastern culture in the Ghanges River region of India.
In fact throughout much of its pre nineteenth century history the territory that is now considered Pakistan, Southeastern Afghanistan and Northwest India were governed as one political unit. This Indus River territory offered irrigation and fertile land yet due to it's inhabited people of aggressive tribal tendencies, a slightly less ruley order existed that came to make a large difference in the future settlement of it's population. The vast territory of India among the Ghanges River, was less militarized and less resistant to the British Rule in the 1840's when colonialism arrived. This being the case, with the subdued response to the British, India eventually inherited stabilizing civilian institutions while Pakistan effectively resisted resulting in a less stable, Islamic identity that has sat idlely in isolation while expending vast resources in preventative defense against it's eastern neighbor.
The northwestern Pakistan region and entry way into the Indian subcontinent crosses through Punjab, a splendid land which translates into "five rivers". This is the area that stands apart from much of the rest of the country of Pakistan. The Punjab Indus River Region has been assumed to carry the obligation of good fortunes within the country since it provides the access to farmland, water, and respectable literacy rates. Other regions to the west and south in the Baluchistan range along the Afghani Border are less developed. The identities of the people among the different parts of Pakistan include residents of the largest city Karachi, Baluchistan, the Pashtun, and Punjabs. The official designation of the country was given in 1947 after the fall of the British Raj yet despite a national border, regions have confronted one another on ethnic issues of which their shared Muslim beliefs have often been unable to supersede. The presence of rivalry and grievance against the promenance of the Indus River Region has presented an obstacle to anything resembling a strong statehood.
The relic trade routes of centuries before, still provide commerce through the region but also has formed an egregious artery for the disruptive activity of the Haqqani terrorist network linked to other extremists in the Middle East. The ISI, Inter-Services Intelligence Agency, the government's spy organization has long staged attempts at forceful control of the contested territory known as Kashmir between Northeast Pakistan and Northwest India. The unabated ability for these networks to coexist weakens central control of the country and has disrupted the strong attempts of the United States' government to exert influence even while bank rolling enormous foreign aid. Being preoccupied with India over the contested region of Kashmir as well as a focus to match the nuclear weapon capability, defense has been a large part of the country's agenda. Upon American retreat from the region in the coming years, a fear that India is going to exert financial and infrastructural development in Afghanistan is worrying Pakistan. So between nation building paranoia to it's east and internal political instability, the emergence of unchecked terrorism cells have been a consequence. As long as the country is unable to hold itself accountable as a base of extremist activities despite billions of dollars in aid, it's unlikely to emerge as a leader to bridge stronger relations in the area. Yet nonetheless, being a geographical importance and a menacing partner for the US, efforts to preserve a long term influence there shall remain that may have some chance at developing institutions to build a stabilized country.