Emergency in Pakistan: Opportunity or Headache? Part-II

*** CAUTION: Long Post but a MUST READ ***

Last week, I posted a short note on the Emergency in Pakistan and promised readers to share more thoughts and views. �

In this post, I will delve deeper into some of the issues and examine a very provocative hypothesis i.e.�might it serve India’s interest better if Pakistan is partitioned into�four provinces (NWFP, Baluchistan, Punjab and Sind; assuming POK decides to merge with Jammu & Kashmir)?.

I realise this is speculation (some might even say that it is dangerous speculation) but�then I have rarely�shied away�from asking difficult questions or finding hard answers…In that�spirit, read on.

When I first started writing this post, my initial hypothesis was:

A stable democratic Pakistan is good for India. An unstable, Talibanised Pakistan is a disaster for India.

However things seems to be inexorably moving in the direction of an unstable, Talibanised Pakistan. What should India do in such a situation?

Should our approach involve�some combination of:

1.Ask US to cut off aid to�Pakistan and declare it a terrorist state?

2. Intensify troop concentration along the border?

3. Make overtures of peace and relax border controls?

4. Pretend business-as-usual?

5. Make the right noises (we are concerned with the situation) but do nothing?

Whichever combination you may suggest (and it may well be none of the above), be aware of the law of unintended consequences.

�Now read on.

Over the last few days, as I was reading more about the situation in Pakistan, some news-reports stood out for their honesty. For example, in “Combating Extremism“, Anwar Syed wrote:

“The public takes little notice of the unspeakable atrocities that men and women commit against one another…

We would not want to think that those who go about as leaders in our society were as cynical or insensitive as the general public is. Yet it is a sobering fact that Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and heads of other Islamic parties do not wish to condemn the Taliban, their coercion of the people, or their design of dismissing democracy and its attendant values in the name of Islamisation.

They would do the same as the Taliban do if they ever came to power. Until then they would let the Taliban do what they can to advance their common cause.

What does all this mean? I think it means that a large section of our society approves of the Taliban�s goal and their resolve to achieve it by all available means, (including force). An even larger section is tolerant of their modus operandi.

…The present government does not know how to combat extremism except by resort to force. There is little or no sympathy in Pakistan for this venture. The recent deployment of troops to stop the wave of Talibanisation in Swat may be the first case of its kind.

…It seems to me that a much larger enterprise, that of remaking society, is involved here. Ms Bhutto is calling attention to �political madressahs�, which are the training centres for militants and repositories of weapons. She distinguishes them from the �deeni madrassahs� (seminaries) which she says are a valued part of our civilisation and culture. In making this distinction she may be trying not to offend the religious establishment. For she must know that the seminaries, even when they are not training their wards in the arts of war, give them an extremist mindset. They are not in the business of imparting open-mindedness and tolerance…”

In “Flawed and failed“, Razi Azmi noted:

“…few will now deny that just over three decades later the residual Pakistan resembles a struggling state, if not a failed one. The army chief has taken over the administration of the country for the fifth time in its brief and chequered history (1958, 1969, 1977, 1999 and 2007), citing grave and imminent dangers to its survival, none of which emanated from an external threat. If that is not proof of a failed state, what is?

Presently, the writ of the state practically does not run in one of its four provinces (NWFP). Another (Balochistan) is deeply alienated from the federation, particularly after the murder of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. Yet another (Sindh) has not recovered from the shock of the treatment meted out to its most illustrious son, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The second largest ethnic group in Sindh, the Mohajirs, may be breathing freely under the present government, but they have not forgotten the reign of terror let loose against the Mohajir youth accused of being MQM activists or sympathisers in the 1990s.

That leaves us with the fourth and largest province, the Punjab. Deep fissures now run through the body-politic of Punjab, whose most popular leader by far (Nawaz Sharif) has been unceremoniously �deported� from his own country.

In the gravest of developments fraught with unforeseen consequences, Pakistani soldiers are now surrendering before the Taliban-Al Qaeda in hordes either out of fear or sympathy or a combination of both.

It is hard to imagine how the state of Pakistan can survive such substantial challenges without a major reconfiguration.

The famous French writer Victor Hugo once said that history repeats itself, first time as tragedy, then as farce. One is tempted to see all the Pakistani governments from Ayub to Musharraf, indeed from Nazimuddin to Musharraf, in this light. Only it is hard to tell which phase constitutes tragedy and which farce.

While one may argue over that depending on one�s political affiliations, there is little doubt that the world sees us as essentially flawed and virtually failed.”

***

Let me now come back to the hypothesis that I mentioned at the beginning of this post. Before I do that, I must note�that this is not my original�idea. Credit for articulating this�goes to Harbans-ji on Bharat Rakshak.

And if you are tempted to dismiss this off-hand, consider this article: “Pakistan is on the road to Balkanization” and Rajinder Puri’s more recent, “Pakistan’s Future” in which he notes (Para 3): “The life style and current aspirations of the fundamentalists, concentrated mostly in NWFP, are markedly different from those of civil society in Punjab and Sind. This can create a serious kind of separatism that could lead eventually to balkanization.” �

Back to Shri Harbans. Here is what he wrote in his first comment (edited slightly):

“…a stable Pakistan is just hog wash. A monolithic entity that survives on only one commonality: Hate India, is a bad idea for India if not for the US.

Ironically it’s not even Islam that unites the country but it’s fervour against Kafir hindu India that does so. This is essential to understand. A monolithic and artificial entity in a geoploitically sensitive area is of some conern to Sam. To India it’s a sore.

Splitting Pakistan into Baluchistan, Sindh, Punjab, NWFP has many plus points for India.

Firstly each state becomes maximum a third the size of BD. Sindh depends on Punjab for water. Punjab depends on Sindh for Port supplies. Baluchistan plays both Iran and Sindh and has to be friendlier to Punjab for water in exchange for gas. NWFP will take Americans a decade or so to tame. But any tensions between Punjab and Sindh are easily micro managed by India. As India has both means for hinterland supply and water.

So even for Pakistan each new nationstate will be constrained to behave with each other and India too. Brings about peace in the region.

Importantly, the Kashmir problem becomes as irrelevant as the artificial concept of Pakistan. Nuclear wepaons can be taken off because each region can be held hostage to bread and butter issues and international recognition in exchange for dismantling nukes.

India can get gas pipelines from 2 states instead of one now. Think how pleased will Benazir or Altaf Hussain be to the founder of independent Sindh in exchange of nukes, or for that matter a Sharif to be in charge of Punjab in exchange for that.

This is the only solution that saves Pakistani’s, the world and India. Balkanize that country.”

KV Rao (another contributor on Bharat Rakshak) responded to this idea with some caution. He wrote:

“…However, we need to examine the balkanization vision to determine if and how the resulting statelets will abandon the combination of negativity, hatred, and what I’ll call lying mercenaryhood.

Is there going to be a sea change in the guiding philosophy of a rump W. Punjab as opposed to today’s Pakistan? And is there going to be actual and effective skepticism on the part of outside powers like China, Saudi and unkil as to W. Punjab’s usefulness in contrast with their attitudes today?

If the answer is no or maybe, then we need to ask whether India would be better or worse off dealing with 4-5 treacherous scumbag countries as opposed to 2 today (Pak and Bangladesh).

Are we expecting India’s and Hindus’ national skills at playing the divide and rule game against enemy states to be improved somehow from their less-than-sterling state today? If so, what if any are the indicators of the improved knowhow?”�

In a follow-up comment, Shri Harbans responded:

“…i did wish to sort of point to mechanisms within Pakistan that naturally head towards a balkanization, Islam not withstanding.

…The TSPA (Terrorist State of Pakistan’s Army)�is the one that exists on the Indian bogey. If and when that Institution falls, Pakistan goes splinters. (much to our advantage and US/Western chagrin)

When that happens naturally as circumstances are presently leading to so, India should open up diplomatic ties with leaders of Sind (Altaf), Punjab (aka NS), Balochs, possible even POK ones dissatisfied with Pakistani Punjab domination and Pasthun settlement in the Gilgit areas.

Howeve the mechanism behind an evil state is deeper than comprehending conventional geo politics.

Specially when the Islam element is involved. Will venture to say that Pakistan will not/ cannot crush Talibanism in NWFP. It will allow Sharia style law and give in to each and every Islamic mandate as entailed by the Mullahs there including freeing up of militants/ terrorists etc.

These are assets to the existance of Pakistan and will be so as long as Pakistan exists in it’s present form.

This interim period TSPA (Pakistan’s Army) will do it’s best to convince the jihadi’s to display their fervor against Kafir Indian Kashmir or elsewhere than in Afghanistan or against the US/ West.

…Afghanistan can’t do much damage to the world even if talibanized. Pakistan can, because it is well connected to the rest of the world with open links and borders to Afghanistan. If the world has to stave off terrorism it will have no option but to isolate Pakistan slowly and completely.

That leaves the nukes question. Any Western failure in Afghanistan will lead to Pakistani isolation in the future. That will compulsively result in Israel/ US taking off Pakistani nuclear installations.

…A single state existing as TSP (Terrorist State of Pakistan) is not in India’s interests. India must develop relationships with regional opposition leaders. The breakup when that happens will have to be managed well by India. That is presently a tall order for Indian politicians specially the WKK/ JNU type brigade types to fathom.”

To this, S Bajwa responded (excerpt):

“…But wouldn’t a proactive approach by India increase the risk of actually unifying Pakis especially if Mush starts spouting idiotic nonsense of “India threatening us”; “Hindu India threatening Muslim Pakistan” etc. You know how the Paki media twists the stories and the avg Paki is dumb enough to swallow it.

Also I don’t think the US will allow anything that will crumble Pakistan or destabilize it not b/c they care about Pakis; but they don’t have the resources to clean up another mess in the region(Iraq, Afghanistan, possibly Iran, and now destabilized Pakistan).

I think its better to wait and watch and see what happens but I agree we should be ready to take action if the situation becomes intolerable to India’s security.”

The link to this lengthy exchange of views (interspersed with a lot of other comments) on Bharat-Rakshak is here.

Over to all of you. Comments, Suggestions, links, further thoughts welcome as always.

Related Posts:

Emergency in Pakistan: Opportunity or Headache?�Part-I

The �Talibanisation� of�Pakistan�

Pakistan, Taliban & the �War on�Terror��yawn

All roads lead to Pakistan�(once�again)

The �Raja-Mandala� approach to containing�Pakistan

Image courtesy: House of PM of Pakistan, Wikipedia

If you liked what you read, please consider subscribing to my feed (here or by Email)

You may also like...

21 Responses

  1. Ashish says:

    As someone (coincidentally also called Ashish..hmm 🙂 ) had been advocating on BR for years: highlight the truth about Pakistan and then watch them sort themselves out. Highlighting the truth is a thankless job in which people call you a dreamer, a idealist, non-pragmatist…yawn. But it was done, and is being done.

    Baluchistan is going to burn? Hah! ..Dreamer. And then..poof! Nawab Bugti “cave-in” done by the TFTA. Baluchistan burns.

    Please note: Now even Paki press is running round using terms like “let us highlight the truth about India onlee..” (What truth will they highlight? Pakis will die of shame and embarassment if they even peek at the truth about India, about their beloved Mughals, the Tajo Mahalay, the overarching dominance of ancient Hindus in all things scientific etc)

    India will do itself a big disservice trying to do things overtly or covertly in Pakistan. Pakistan is just a symptom. Islam is the real problem. Let Pak simmer, boil, splinter, try to regroup itself, re-splinter in a different way, go quasi-communist, and then implode. Let the army wipe out the mujahids, and let the mujahids mortally wound the army. Let this count as one more of the defeats of Islam. Let more and more muslims come back to living as decent human beings.

    As this Ashish had been saying in BR, “Pakistan is part of Akhand Bharat, and we want it back in a suitably sanitized form.”

    By the way do you know a hundred or so muslims celebrated Diwali in Pak to support Justice Bhagwandas? Baby steps..:)

    The Aurangzeb-worshipping, fatwa-happy, “we are entitled onleee bacause we are muslims” kind of Islam is the thing our eyes should be on. Keep your eyes on the prize, everybody. Don’t get yourself into messes by thinking you have won the marathon after running just 3.14 miles.

  2. B Shantanu says:

    Fresh off the press:

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2536727.cms

    Excerpts:

    “WASHINGTON: Shadow boxing between the United States and Pakistan regarding Islamabad’s control over its nuclear weapons is threatening to suck in India…

    The latest spat began after a flurry of reports in the Western media about what unnamed US officials describe as “contingency plans” to take control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in the event of an imminent jihadist takeover in the country.

    The reports have angered and panicked Pakistan’s military government, and on Monday, the country’s foreign office spokesman lashed out at the “irresponsible conjecture.”

    In doing so and threatening non-specific retaliation, the spokesman raised new questions about Pakistan’s nuclear posture, which has long been seen as unstable and India-specific.

    Current Pakistani nuclear doctrine does not even take into account a nuclear confrontation with the United States.

    In fact, a 2002 elaboration of Pakistan’s fledgling nuclear doctrine said its “nuclear weapons are aimed only at India” and identified four triggers which would cause Islamabad to use the weapons.

    The triggers included:
    A. If India attacks and conquers a large part of its territory (space threshold),
    B. India destroys a large part of either its land or air forces (military threshold),
    C. India proceeds to the economic strangulation of Pakistan (economic strangling) and
    D. If India destabilises Pakistan through domestic subversion.

    …the latest Pakistani statement left it unclear who and how Islamabad would retaliate against, and if the retaliation would be nuclear or otherwise. “

  3. Ashish says:

    Some people on BR hold the view that Pak is “Nook Nood” or has had its nukes disabled some time ago. I agree with them.

    At any rate, I think Pak nukes should not be an issue for India. India should not mess with pak even if Mush came out and confessed to having no nukes left, and it was verifies that he was not lying, for a change.

    No. We should not mess with Pak because:
    1. The situation over there is too complex to have a simple answer
    2. The situation shows signs that it will, over the long run, resolve itself in India’s favour
    3. Messing with Pak will answer Mush’s prayers. He will spout the necessary rhetoric, rally his Tall Fair Troops against India, and we will be back to square one
    4. Our economy needs a war like I need smallpox!
    5. Things which have taken a long time to set up should be allowed a long time to get resolved (my own mantra).

  4. Prakash says:

    My confusion has always been if anti-india feeling in pakistan is fueled by the military establishment or is it something fundamental due to the religion (more of an anti-hindu feeling). In India, I think we have a majority who do not want to blame the current generation in pakistan for crimes during partition and are even forgiving about incidents such as the kargil incursion whom we tend to blame primarily on the military establishment. However, it appears to be hard to get a clear handle on the pakistan publics feeling towards India. My feeling it is different in different regions. In Islamabad, a more progressive area apparently, I would think people are interested in just ending the kashmir issue by negotiation while in NWFP (say) they probably just want to continue their talibanisation. If that is the case, may be it is worth splitting them up (not by active involvement but by watching by the wayside!)

  5. Ashish says:

    The military encourages and then directs the Hindu-hatred in Pak, and this is what we get to feel in India. The Hindu-hatred that is not channelized by the military simply gets directed at making Islam itself in Pak “more pure” (ie Talibanization). That is why the military wants to train Paki radicals to go into India.

    Pakistan will break itself up with minimum fallout to India if we play our cards right, And it wont happen overnight. Pakistan has been more or less in Emergency for the past 60 years, but is ripening faster nowadays.

    Shraddha aur Saboori.
    (Faith and Patience)

  6. KAKUMANI says:

    Hi,
    After reading the posts both by Journalists / Commentators and others, I feel that I should share
    my direct experience working with Pakistanis here in
    the US.
    In the past five years I have had the pleasure of working with five young students from Pakistan and
    I was amazed at how we are similar than different.
    We always had comparisons in our discussions
    and very less differences.
    What thay would tell me about Pakistani society would
    sound as if they were talking about India.
    Ofcourse the major differentiating factor would be the
    role of the military.
    I am just sorry for the people of Pakistan and wish them well.
    I will keep listening to JUNOON and NUSRAT FATEH
    ALI KHAN.
    AND I AM A HINDU.

  7. Ashish says:

    I wish the people of Pakistan well too. Especially the Pakistanis from Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit/Balawaristan, the Mengal, the Seraiki in their freedom fights. I hope the rest of the Pakistanis get out of Islamabad-rawalpindi tyranny too.

    Pak is a country held captive by the mohajirs (like Mush), the Pak-Punjabis, the Army, and blind servitude to Islam.

    I have written all that I have over here only after 10 years of studying Pak society, their educational system, Army, amd “politics”, and Islam. And I have some Pak friends too. Decent guys. There are obvious differences over cricket (which is good!).

  8. B Shantanu says:

    Ashish, Prakash, Kakumani: Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    ***
    @ Ashish: I am still going through my list of background reading material on this – so I will reserve my comments but this line in your comment goes to the hear tof the problem (I think):

    “Pak is a country held captive by the mohajirs (like Mush), the Pak-Punjabis, the Army, and blind servitude to Islam.”

    ***

    @ Kakumani: There is no contradiction between being a Hindu and liking Junoon/ Nusrat Fateh Ali. However, there are more subtle nuances at play here.

    I will quote from a post I wrote some time ago:

    Pakistan is happy to send us their best talent, who win our hearts by their art, their music, their poetry, their excellence in sports. At the same time, they subvert us by sending in terrorists who bomb and kill and loot hundreds of innocent men, women and children whose only crime is that they are Hindu. How can we separate these two issues? How can we say that art and sports unites our nations while terrorism is a crime we must rebut? That Pakistani artistes must be welcomed with open arms but Pakistani-trained terrorists must be fought back?

    Is this possible? Is it possible to keep art and life in separate compartments? To fight the Pakistanis at the frontier and welcome their writers, poets, singers and musicians to our cities and fete them? To say that culture has nothing to do with terrorism, sportsmanship is more important than human life? That the murder of the innocents in Kashmir must not be allowed to bloody our ties?

    Thoughts welcome.

  9. Ashish says:

    About separation of artist from terrorist:

    Yes, very much possible, and being done too!

    Keep killing the terrorist and welcome the artist.

    Most people have no idea of the fountains of bile and bitterness that erupt in Pakistan whenever they see Meera, Adnan, or Junoon being welcomed in India.

    It sends their two nation theory into the dustbin, *but* since we keep doing the needful on the terrorists, the Paki is frustrated that their artists have not made Indians feel the “might of Allah” so that Indians give Pak Kashmir (and after that, much more) on a silver platter, ruling-class and Army-type Pakistanis feel a sense of entitlement that is impossible for any level-headed person to understand. Its like “we are the martial Muslims, the true Muslims and the best Allah has ever put on earth, and the kaafirs will realize this, embrace Islam, and pay us tribute after seeing our true greatness.”

    They don’t know that the artists that come here don’t have delusions like the average brainwashed Paki (especially Punjabi Paki and Mohajir); artists just come to earn money (pretty much a human need), and make friends.

    So we need to keep culture and terror separate. India, hamstrung as it is by a terrorist-loving PM, China-loving Left, and Missionary loving Italian Hindu-hater de facto PM, is still doing OK on that count. Could do much better, but we are doing OK…on the Paki issue.

  10. animesh says:

    Keep things simple..
    I think we are playing out the Manmohan Desai’s sript to the hilt.., with Pak our beloved Vijay and Kashmir the quintessential Maa.. and self as Shashi Kapoor the righteous brother.. who sees all wrongs only when he has become the police inspector… the economic giant that we have become.. and Maa.. has to go with the righteous brother.. India. and Vijay has to die for his own good…
    I think the time has come to change the script a bit…
    How about coming out in full support of Pak our beloved brother long lost in the Kumbh Ka Mela.. Mass rallies.. long banners… schools protest marches..in support of our brothers and sisters in this time of need…albeit with the caution that they have to solve their problems themselves… and we have faith that they will come out victorious..
    Vijay will live… its not Sholay..he deserves to live… he has sacrificed a lot.. long time.. just this once may be history will not repeat itself.. if we try a little bit.. do we have it in us!!!!!!!

  11. Prakash says:

    If their artists have terrorist ties (our intelligence agencies should know), they should not get visas. If they do not have such ties, they should be welcomed to India. On the other hand, indian government should have said they are willing to negotiate only with an “elected” pakistani government. But our spineless politicians just kept buckling to US pressure. It was our government that legitimized the musharraf regime by going to the negotiating table.

  12. B Shantanu says:

    I stumbled upon this post by Chandra on this same subject.

    Definitely worth a read:

    Also have a look at this map:

  13. What I am saying is very simple. Urdu-speaking people living in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and other cities in the province of Sindh (Pakistan) deserve their own country. An independent country for Urdu-speaking people will solve their economic problems on one hand and provide an environment of freedom from the military dictatorship of Punjab province on the other. Time has now come that the cruel domination of Punjab must end by all means. The Punjabi military has been ruling Pakistan ever since its inception. The Urdu-speaking great leaders who had struggled for the freedom of Pakistan were brutally murdered as part of the Punjabi conspiracy to hijack the country. It has become inevitable now that Punjab should no longer be given the right or power to continue its control on other smaller provinces of Pakistan. At least Sindhis, Pathans and Balochis have some of their regional identities but the Urdu-speaking people have been compelled to become Sindhis which is not possible. Urdu-speaking people have their own identity and worth. It is not possible for Urdu-speaking people to become part of Sindh. This attempt to make Urdu-speaking people part of Sindh has always failed. This fact that Urdu-speaking people are independent in their thinking and are able to represent themselves more effectively if they are independent, should be accepted and recognized by the whole world. One cannot force a French person to become German or a Czech citizen to become Spanish or a Polish citizen to become Russian, similarly, one should also not force an Urdu-speaking citizen to become Sindhi. Urdu language is much different from Sindhi language. Not only language, there is glaring difference in terms of culture, traditions, national character, vision, approach, mindset and above all religious thinking. Indeed Sindhis are brothers of Urdu-speaking people in their joint effort to get rid of Punjab’s political domination through achieving independence of Jinnahpur and Sindhudesh. Urdu-speaking people cannot be forced to stay with Sindhis forever and without their own right of freedom. Both Urdu-speaking people and Sindhis deserve their respective identities through formation of Jinnahpur and Sindhudesh. Both these nations are not ready to remain under the umbrella of socalled Pakistan which is nothing but a political colony of Punjab. This colony must, therefore, disintegrate without any further delay.

    If other separatist movements in the world are accepted and acknowledged worldwide, movement for a free and independent state for Urdu-speaking people currently living under dictatorial siege of Pakistan army should also be embraced by the United States of America and other Western nations. If Kosovo can get independence in 21st century, why not Urdu-speaking people of Pakistan can get their own country called Republic of Jinnahpur. Urdu-speaking people are also intelligent, educated, hardworking and politically sound to fight for their independence in the 21st century. Urdu-sepaking people should not be under estimated or considered as any regional minority of Pakistan. Urdu-speaking people represent the most educated class in the presently undivided Pakistan. When it come to educational statistics of Pakistan in the field of education, the contribution of Urdu-speaking people is upto 80%. It must be noted that Pakistan without Urdu-speaking people is nothing but a jungle of illiterates from Punjab and people in uniform who have hijacked this country for the economic betterment of military dictators along with Punjabi bureacracy and their families.

    Republic of Jinnahpur shall be an economic capital of South Asia which will beat Dubai and Singapore on one hand and become a great place for foreign investment on the other. The deserving people of Republic of Jinnahpur will have job opportunities because of billions of dollars of foreign investment which is at present hindred because of terrorist activities sponsored by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and other military sponsored organizations. Such terrorist activities conducted by Pakistan’s ISI and other military sponsored militant organizations have rather blocked the economic progress of Karachi which in turn have created hurdles for the deserving educated Urdu-speaking class to invite foreign investment into Karachi. It is only possible if Karachi gets its independence and formation of Republic of Jinnahpur shall ensure that the deserving Urdu-speaking people will get their right of progress and prosperity under the banner of an independent country called Republic of Jinnahpur.

    Pakistan has been declared a failed state and therefore remaining part of Pakistan means declaring ourselves as failed too. Urdu-speaking people of Karachi cannot be classified as failed because it is due to them that Pakistan has been surviving so far. Had there been no educated class making contribution towards Pakistan’s economic growth in the last 60 years, Pakistan would not have reached to the level where it is now. However, due to its political failure and its inability to remain as a sovereign state, Pakistan is very close to its disintegration. In such a situation, it would not be ideal for Urdu-speaking people to remain intact with Pakistan. Rather, it is important that Urdu-speaking people should initiate their fight for freedom while Pathans, Balochis and Sindhis should follow suit. Republic of Jinnahpur can establish a precedence for freedom of all nations currently suffering under the military siege of Punjab.

    When I say “Punjab”, I do not intend to include those great people of Punjab who consider themselves as Ghulaman-e-Ahl-e-Bait (Servants of Holy Prophet Muhammad SA, His beloved daughter Hazrat Bibi Fatima AS, His loyal son-in-law Hazrat Ali AS, His beloved grand sons Hassan AS and Hussain AS) and also the Seraiki nation who were wrongfully made part of Punjab province by the cruel Punjabi politicians in order to gain monetary gains by manipulating the total population of Punjab province. Even after 60 years, the Seraiki belt has been economically kept backward while poor Punjabi servants of Ahl-e-Bait were deprived of their constitutional right of serving in the Pakistan Army because of Wahabi-oriented policies made by Asian Hitler called General Zia-ul-Haq back in 1979 which kept Shia and true Barelvi Sunni Muslims away from army jobs. The doors of Republic of Jinnahpur shall remain open for such Punjabi brothers forever.

    As for the Pathans, Balochis and Sindhis, I would like to convey my message to them that they should also get up from long sleep. The Punjabi military killed several Pathan freedom fighters, Baloch freedom fighters and even stabbed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who had brought back home 90,000 Punjabi Prisoners of War. The brutality of Punjabi military can be evaluated on the basis of their one single act that they stabbed and killed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who was their rescuer from Indian prison. Not only this, the Punjabi military recently killed Benazir Bhutto in order to wipe her off from the political scene to keep the status quo alive. The murder of Bhuttos should be sufficient for the Sindhis to wake up and get their own independence from Pakistan by forming Sindhudesh. Similarly, independent Pakhtoonistan and Balochistan should also appear on the world map in the nearest future.

    The Urdu-speaking people are peace-loving people in true perspective. They dont want any confrontation, however, they have their right to defend themselves against the brutality of Punjabi army. The Urdu-speaking people shall not become victim of yet another Operation Cleanup which was once conducted by Punjabi army in 1992. Nawaz Sharif and his Punjabi political team of hypocrites cannot succeed in their conspiracy to regain substantial power again although they have just swallowed a bitter pill of shaking hands with Asif Zardari, a Sindhi man and spouse of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. It is important that Asif Zardari should immediately understand conspiracy and hidden agenda of Nawaz Sharif and his political team of hypocrites who do not possess any sympathy or love for any nation otherthan typical Wahabi minded Punjabis. Nawaz Sharif is only waiting for the right time to confront Asif Zardari and as such Nawaz Sharif will definitely attempt to get into Pakistan’s National Assembly through a by-election and thereafter challenge Asif Zardari and Bhuttos’ Sindh-based political party called Peoples’ Party. I cannot accept for any reason that Nawaz Sharif or his political team of hypocrites would ever accept any Sindhi, Pathan, Baloch or Urdu-speaking person to become Pakistan’s prime minister. This is impossible for any Punjabi hypocrite like Nawaz Sharif to extend his hand for cooperation or affection towards any Sindhi, Pathan, Baloch or Urdu-speaking person in the name of socalled political reconciliation. I ask all the politicians from Pakhtoonistan, Balochistan, Seraiki belt and Sindhudesh not to believe Nawaz Sharif and his false promises of mutual cooperation or other similar sweet slogans. A snake is always a snake. Nawaz Sharif cannot be trusted.

    The Last Word
    I want all Urdu-speaking people living in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and other parts of Sindh to become active members of JINNAHPUR LIBERATION MOVEMENT. This movement shall be non-militant and non-violent in reality. This movement shall be run by Urdu-speaking intellectuals, educationists, workers, students, businessmen and politicians. This movement shall be peaceful and totally committed for creating international awareness about the great demand for an independent state called Republic of Jinnahpur by the Urdu-speaking people living under military siege of Pakistan army.

  14. v.c.krishnan says:

    Dear Sir,
    I felt really heart broken on reading the mail from Shri. Syed.
    I do not know why you, Shri Shantanu permitted this to appear, may be to highlight the cause that the attitude of one playing against the other is not common only to Indian politicians but it is a world wide phenomenon.
    India is breaking at its seams because of the wrong policies of dividing it as per language.
    Tamilnadu is fighting with Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh is fighting with Tamilnadu. Kerala is fighting with Tamilnadu.
    The British tried to destroy us by highlighting the non existent “CASTE SYSTEM” and toxified three generations with this poison.
    They could not understand the grandeur of the job like situation and the co existence of people and hence the “ILLUSIONARY CASTE SYSTEM”.
    The Moslem rulers were clear of their objective “KILL” or become Moslem.
    Our beloved founder leaders then went a step further in promoting the attitude of parochialism. They broke the nations back by dividing the nation and ruling on the basis of language.
    Mr. Syed, should understand that he should not fall into this trap. He should understand that it has got India nowhere, but a common thread of celeberating festivals throughout this Nation is holding the fabric together.
    (Even this is being treaded upon by a group who now are trying to change a celeberation in April to January).
    My fervent appeal to Mr. Syed would be to look a million times, even a Trillion times within himself and come out of this self hypnotism, and see reason.
    He should understand that it will only create chaos, and the result of falling prey to these destructive thoughts will be that the common human will be fooder for the vultures known as politicians.
    They have no religion, or culture or creed except selfishness of every type, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their ends.
    Mr. Syed should understand that politicians are turn coats and will change color as a chameleon does when they want power and any amount of being URDU, PASHTU< BALUCHI will not help!
    Please Shri. Syed nip this thought in the bud and look for bringing your people together, as they belong to one thought process and do not try to break up based on anything , least of all language.
    Language is only a means of communication. A gesture is a language, a look is a language; Language is only a means of human communication just like cats licking one another, cows licking one another, and dogs playing with each other (Even in a plie of filth).
    PLEASE Mr. SYED DO NOT FALL A PREY TO THIS DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHT.
    Regards,
    vck

  15. Praada Verna says:

    VCK,

    you look to live far from reality. It is hard to reason your denial of caste system.

  16. v.c.krishnan says:

    Dear Praada,
    I am not countering your argument. if you feel I am living away from reality. Be it so. I reitereate that the caste system is a thought process developed to alter the mindset of a many to destroy a way of life and is not a part of what I think I know is a beautiful way of life.
    Regards,
    vck

  17. B Shantanu says:

    Syed, vck, Praada: Thanks for your comments.

    Syed’s comment actually reinforces the question that I had posed in my post above (in the very first paragraph), viz:

    “…might it serve India’s interest better if Pakistan is partitioned into four provinces (NWFP, Baluchistan, Punjab and Sind; assuming POK decides to merge with Jammu & Kashmir)?…”

    Thoughts welcome.

  18. v.c.krishnan says:

    Dear Shantanuji,
    The past is the past. Let us learn from it rather than, as we have a saying in southern India, “why pick up a scorpion going on the road and put it on your body”.
    In the same way, why interfere with others, leave them be.
    It may serve the purpose initially, but with changing times we will find it burdesome.
    I think we should help them to evolve, and make them go away from the fundementalism that grips their nation today. A non fundamentalist Pakistan is better off rather than no Pakistan at all.
    At least it will be the first wall against a Muslim and Taliban leader
    Regards,
    vck

  19. B Shantanu says:

    From: Stable Pakistan not in India’s interest by Capt. Bharat Verma (Editor, Indian Defence Review)

    *** Excerpts (emphasis mine) ***

    …Indians pose the biggest threat to the Union of India.

    The reason is simple. An average Indian is merely an individual. His personal well-being overrides all other considerations, including national interests.

    …This is perhaps why many have begun to propagate parting of Kashmir in their write-ups, since it does not belong individually to them. However, imagine the hue and cry if their personal property and family is held hostage by the terrorists. They will sing a different tune.

    The blame lies with New Delhi. For the past 60 years, instead of consolidating the Union, leaders encouraged divisiveness on the basis of religion and caste for sheer vote bank politics.

    …The result: groups of citizens have risen against the state, mostly for lack of economic progress and denial of justice. Such disgruntled groups are being taken advantage of by the external forces inimical to India.

    There can never be unity in diversity. Unity requires a fair amount of uniformity in laws throughout the Union.

    That New Delhi is its own worst enemy became obvious when it permitted the creation of a pure Islamic State on its borders. This nation-state contradicts every democratic and multi-cultural value dear to India. Therefore, if New Delhi has not slept a wink since the creation of Pakistan, it has no one except itself to blame!

    …Hence, first we created a state with inbuilt characteristic of fundamentalism and extreme philosophy contrary to our professed beliefs; then the monster in it started ethnic cleansing in the Valley; and engineered demographic changes through Bangladesh in West Bengal, Assam and the Northeast.

    …Saudi Arabia and other Islamic oil-rich countries pitched in with the petro-dollars in support, all in the cause of the illusion called Ummah and the establishment of the Caliphate.

    The Indian leadership, for its personal vote-bank gains, helped these inimical forces by invoking the Illegal Migrants (determination by Tribunals) or IMDT Act in Assam, which was subsequently shot down by the Supreme Court. The damage was done, as the Union’s overburdened security forces grapple with 15 million illegal Bangladesh infiltrators creating mayhem on Indian soil.

    Islamabad, Dhaka, and now Kathmandu, spurred on by Beijing, have united with the singular agenda: to unhook the Valley and the Northeast from the Indian Union.

    …And yet, New Delhi, instead of consolidating and unifying the Union , continues to divide its citizenry in religious or caste denominations.

    Over the past 60 years, New Delhi’s muddle-headed policies actually encouraged separatism. Instead of ensuring diffusion of secular pan-Indian culture and the integration of the society by encouraging Indians from all over to buy and develop land and industry in the Valley and the Northeast, it imposed restrictions on such settlements.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh exported their fundamentalist population to these areas to change the demographic hues in their favour. The ugly separatist face of the agitation in the Valley today is the consequence of the dereliction of the fundamental duty by the Union.

    The trend needs to be reversed forcibly by integrating the Valley firmly into the Indian mainstream by creating a secular mix of population through industrialisation.

    …With Pakistan on the brink of collapse due to massive internal as well as international contradictions, it is matter of time before it ceases to exist.

    Multiple benefits will accrue to the Union of India on such demise.

    …The self-destructive path that Islamabad chose will either splinter the state into many parts or it will wither away—a case of natural progression to its logical conclusion. In either case Baluchistan will achieve independence.

    For New Delhi this opens a window of opportunity to ensure that the Gwadar port does not fall into the hands of the Chinese. In this, there is synergy between the political objectives of the Americans and the Indians. Our existing goodwill in Baluchistan requires intelligent leveraging.

    Sindh and most of the non-Punjabi areas of Pakistan will be our new friends.

    Pakistan’s breakup will be a major setback to the Jihad Factory, which functions with the help of its army and the ISI. This in turn will ease pressures on India and the international community.

    With China’s one arm, i.e. Pakistan disabled, its expansionist plans will receive a severe jolt. Beijing continues to pose another primary threat to New Delhi. Even as we continue to engage with it as constructively as possible, we must strive to remove the proxy.

    At the same time, it is prudent to extend moral support to the people of Tibet to sink Chinese expansionism in the morass of insurgency. For a change, let us do to them what they do to us.

    With Pakistan gone, the chances of Central Asia getting infected with the Jihadi fervour will recede. Afghanistan will gain fair amount of stability. India’s access to Central Asian energy routes will open up.

    …Above all, the gathering threat from a united group of authoritarian regimes along our 14,000 km borders, orchestrated and synchronised by Pakistan, will dissolve.

    …It is intriguing, therefore, to hear New Delhi mouthing the falsehood that stable Pakistan is in India’s favour. Perpetuation of such illogic for vote-bank politics is harming the consolidation and integration of the Union.

    Short-sighted politicians as usual are overlooking the national interest for the short-term personal gains of a few votes.

  20. Ram S Pejawar says:

    The permanent solution is always long term. To undo the harm to young minds that are fed rhetoric who eventually become a tool for terrorism is enter the mind of the child FIRST. Benjamin Libet, a psychologist caught people’s brains jumping the gun on consciousness. Milliseconds before a person thought s/he decided to press a button, brain areas were already active. The results, which have been corroborated by a new study, show that the subconscious calls the shots.
    Today media has no boundaries. Create media content that addresses anti societal issues especially terrorism, Feed such messages that filters rhetoric. Research shows even switching off the media, does not prevent the child discussing such subjects amongst peers. The development of content HAS to such it means FUN for the child and inner wish of every right thinking individual what responsible societal behaviour should be.
    hence sow sanatan dharmic thoughts

  21. KHWAJA AFTAB SHAH, USA says:

    BHAKKAR- a gateway to Pakistan for Taliban. The people of BHAKKAR district have elected a chief minister of Punjab and a prime minister of Pakistan in different elections. Although a goup of local leaders sponcer the occasion and personally benefited by this gesture but basically the people of Bhakkar elected these leaders in hope of a better Bhakkar. It’s requested to the President, prime minister of Pakistan and chief minister of Punjab to please consider upgrading Bhakkar as a divisional head quarter by appointing a commissioner to provide better governance, extra facilities and security in the area. There are news that religious violence and drug smuggling is increased in the area recently. Bhakkar is a gate way to the Punjab and Sind provinces for NWFP and Afghanistan. Bhakkar has been head quarters of divisional level organization of Thal Development Authority since 1952. TDA was abolish in 1971 on corruption charges against it’s high officials. Bhakkar is also a border district to Dera Ismail Khan and a capital city of Thal desert area-spread in six districts in Punjab. Thanking you, Khwaja Aftab Shah,Florida, U.S.A