>>2071227
I recall a time where most formables required the former to be independent along with historical mode being turned off. It seems like they eased up on it at some point, you can get AI subjects to make most formables now, but several of the older ones are still blocked for the AI by historical.

Here's my Norway achievement run where I also went out of my way to collect formables.
>United Guyana
>Central America
>Caribbean
>Maghreb
>Latin Africa
>East Africa
>Mutapa
>Nusantara

>I wonder about the Mughal path, is it better than India's?
In terms of raw manpower/industry, probably not, but both of the non-aligned Afghanistan routes let you stack cavalry attack and defense to +50% for the memes.

Also, as any of the Afghan routes you can core Pakistan by stealing a state from the Raj via the Cross-Border Ties focus (scumming might be necessary) and then releasing Pakistan as an independent country, which unlocks the Afghan-Pakistan Cold War focus. Just make absolutely sure you don't join or make a faction beforehand.