Final answer:
The new countries' boundaries were drawn mainly due to ethnic and religious divisions, resulting in the partition of India and Pakistan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The boundaries of India and Pakistan were drawn the way they were mainly due to ethnic and religious divisions. The partition was a result of the demand for a separate Muslim state by the Muslim League, spearheaded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to protect the interests of the Muslim minority in a predominantly Hindu India. This led to the division of the Indian subcontinent based on religious majority areas into India with a Hindu majority and Pakistan with a Muslim majority.
However, the partition resulted in the separation of populations along religious lines, causing a massive displacement of people and widespread violence. The hastily drawn borders were arbitrary and did not take into account the complexities of ethnic and religious diversity in the region, leading to ongoing conflicts and disputes like the Kashmir issue.