It is not just the oppressed Balochis who are fighting the Pakistani Government. Even the Pashtuns are. They do not want to break away from Pakistan, but thinks that there should be many "nations" under Pakistan, and each "nation" should be given more contol over their resources.
The nationalist leader from Balochistan strongly opposed the role of the army and intelligence agencies in the country??s politics. ??Unless they (army and intelligence agencies) stay away from politics, Pakistan can never stop experiencing internal political crises and external threats,? said the PkMAP chief while speaking at a Peshawar Press Club programme. Mr Achakzai, whose party is part of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM), urged all religious and political parties to get together at one platform to struggle for a separate Pakhtun province with a name other than the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).[Separate province for Pakhtuns]
Comments (3)
Pakistan even resists renaming the NWFP to something less obviously colonial. That's because calling in Pakhtunistan will cause Pakhtun nationalists on both sides of the Durand Line to call for a separate state.
Posted by Nitin | September 3, 2004 7:15 PM
Posted on September 3, 2004 19:15
Its not only the Pashtuns and the Balochis who are agitating even the sindhis and northern regions of POK have a grouse.
Pakistans ruling elite is almost completely comprised of people from the province of punjab.
Other areas feel neglected and hence the strife.
Posted by kautilya | September 4, 2004 2:11 AM
Posted on September 4, 2004 02:11
Rather than getting defensive on the issue of Kashmir valley, I wish the Indian Govt. became more aggressive in highlighting the plight of the opressed nations in Pakistan. There is even less news in Indian media about it. I am happy that atleast in Indian Blogs, this issue is being highlighted.
Posted by JK | September 4, 2004 10:33 AM
Posted on September 4, 2004 10:33