Questions:

What branch of Islam predominates in Pakistan? What is the connection between the branch or sect of Islam in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan? Does this affect Pakistan’s relation with India, Afghanistan, and Al-Qaeda?

 

Answers:

         Sunni is the predominate branch of religion in Pakistan. The connection between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is that they share the same dominant branch of religion: the Sunni. It is the largest denomination of Islam. 

India and Pakistan’s relationship would probably be strained despite the fact that Islam is the second most practiced religion in India. The main branch of Islam in India is Sulfis. Pakistan’s ties would not be as strong with India when compared to Saudi Arabia, because Sunni views differ from Sulfis beliefs.

Afghanistan and Pakistan’s relationship would be strengthened if anything because they share the same Islamic religion, Sunni.

Al-Qaeda and Pakistan’s relationship would be affected in a more negative aspect because even though they have the same basic Islamic beliefs, the Al-Qaeda have branched off from the Sunni belief to Salafi, a more extreme Islamic religion.

 

By: Hannah McGennis