India became independent in 1947 but partition occured at the same time. Long Hindu-Muslim religious conflict and animosities were an important cause of the division of the old colonial territory into two states: India and Pakistan. India was and remains a country with a Hindu majority. Pakistan was to be the country destined for Muslims. The Muslim leaders of what would be Pakistan did not want to be under the sovereignty of an Indian state controlled by Hindus, and did not hear the pleas from Mahatma Gandhi. Both countries have fought some wars since 1947 and there are permanent tensions between them.
