What People Will Die For

Many in the West hope that elections will paper over divisions. Kenya's had the opposite effect.

By Fareed Zakaria | NEWSWEEK

From the magazine issue dated Jan 14, 2008

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Posted By: Shikhas @ 01/18/2008 6:12:59 AM

Comment: I am amazed how people across the world highlight the Muslim killings in Gujarat. Everyone deliberately turns a blind eye on the event which started the entire riot - burning of train full of Hindu pilgrims in Godhara. These helpless people were not even allowed to come out of the train which was put on fire by the muslims fanatics. The unruly mob mercilessly bolted the door and massacred if anyone tried to escape from the train. What followed was retaliation by the mob. There were no Hindus or Muslims, only blind blood thirsty fanatics on loose with vengeance as their guiding force. I don???t agree at all with the violence and the blood shedding that followed but not only muslims but hindus were killed as well.
The world has decided to brand Gujrat as a communal state and what is funny is most of these columnists and writers who write so passionately about the state of affairs there have not been there themselves even once!!!
Posted By: sundeep @ 01/18/2008 1:07:03 AM

Comment: I am sorry but you are wrong. The first genuine pogrom in independent India's history was carried out by the Congress following the assassination of Mrs Gandhi. It was planned, deliberate and not just did it have the sanction of the state but it was executed by the agents of the ruling party. Merely because Mr Rajiv Gandhi, who was in charge at that point, was more acceptible to the intelligentsia does not make the crime any less heinous.
Posted By: sundeep @ 01/18/2008 1:03:58 AM

Comment: I am sorry but you are wrong. The first genuine pogrom in independent India's history was unleashed by the Congrees in 1984 following Mrs Gandhi's assassination. It was deliberate, planned and not just did it have the sanction of the state, it was executed by agents of the government. Merely because Mr Rajiv Gandhi was more acceptible to West does not make that any the less a crime.
Posted By: SHAHZKL @ 01/16/2008 1:32:14 AM

Comment: Naraendra Modi represents the ugly face of Hindu fundamentalists, who killed Mahatma Gandhi the most ardent advocate of a secular democratic India. Modi won inspite of being guilty of being responsible for thousands of muslims in Gujerat under his watch. The fact that he appealed to the electorate gives you an insight to the mindset that prevails in rising hindu fundamentalism.
Posted By: amjad_in @ 01/15/2008 8:41:21 AM

Comment: tht was an amazing story
Posted By: amjad_in @ 01/15/2008 8:39:33 AM

Comment: That was an amazing story
Posted By: nocabbages @ 01/15/2008 6:33:57 AM

Comment: Mr. Zakaria, i guess you are confused. How can Narendra Modi be a rabid nationalist and campaigner for regional pride (here Gujarat's) at the same time? I am no supporter of Modi but his re-election simply means that the majority Hindus can live in peace and not be treated like dirt as have the so-called secular parties (read Sonia-led Congress and the commies) done ever since 1947. We in India may vote for different political parties with varied agendas yet we are all connected to our motherland by the "Idea of India", something promoted vehemently by Narendra Modi.
Posted By: JS01 @ 01/14/2008 1:50:32 AM

Comment: Questions to Dr. Zakaria and posters: in this era of globalization, which elements of identity should be retained, and which should be discarded? How can nations form values which are national in scope and emphasis? More importantly, how can the global community form values which are transnational in scope and emphasis? Or perhaps, can one make the opposite case that the trend toward tribalism is actually beneficial?
Posted By: Charu @ 01/13/2008 2:36:14 PM

Comment: Mr. Zakaria, excellent taqiyah in the service of the ummah. Over a quarter of the deaths in the Gujarat riots (which totaled a little over a thousand, and nowhere close to your clever hyperbolic figure of tens of thousands) were Hindus. Some "pogrom" this! You want to talk about pogroms, try the Sikh massacre (over 3,000 deaths) in New Delhi organized by the Congress party, the party that your family has long been intimately associated with. Or the ethnic cleansing of Hindus from the Kashmir valley, aided and abetted by the Muslim state government there. Now THAT is the first genuine pogrom in independent India's history!
Posted By: jhayner @ 01/12/2008 12:33:57 PM

Comment: Mr. Zakaria - a most insightful article. FYI, the United Kingdom constitutes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the island that includes Englahd, Scotland, and Wales.
Posted By: A Fan @ 01/11/2008 4:22:34 PM

Comment: There is another force empowering the increasing irrelevance of the nation state. It is the presence of the American hyperpower, which means that small groups need not join not-so-friendly larger groups for protection, nor do the more powerful groups need anyone to act as the moat around the castle. Other traditional state functions are migrating upward and outward, e.g., the ECB, further reducing the relevance of the state.
Posted By: A Fan @ 01/11/2008 4:19:57 PM

Comment: There is another critical force empowering the decay of nation states. It is the presence of the American hyperpower, which drastically reduces the security argument for the state. As long as we're around, little guys don't have to join with their not-always-friendly neighbors for protection, nor do the more powerful guys need the little guys to act as the moat around the castle.
Posted By: Stellakk @ 01/11/2008 1:45:42 PM

Comment: The sketchy referene o the rios in Kenya clearly shows how little you understand about the situation, its not a tribal thing its all politics and the quest for power. the only people to gain from it are not the Kenyans but the poliicians.
As for the pictur used in the print copy, oh no, please not that Kibaki supportes did not clash with the police at any one time. They just werenot rioting and havent taken to the streets yet.
Posted By: Stellakk @ 01/11/2008 1:45:37 PM

Comment: The sketchy referene o the rios in Kenya clearly shows how little you understand about the situation, its not a tribal thing its all politics and the quest for power. the only people to gain from it are not the Kenyans but the poliicians.
As for the pictur used in the print copy, oh no, please not that Kibaki supportes did not clash with the police at any one time. They just werenot rioting and havent taken to the streets yet.
Posted By: naheiman @ 01/11/2008 3:29:14 AM

Comment: Excellent column, Fareed. For those who are critical of his content, try and remember that editors place word limits on such columns, and thus he chose the most recent events to make his argument--Pakistan, Modi, Kenya, and Iraq--before bringing in Europe's issues to emphasize that this isn't a problem limited to those in this world with darker skin complexions. He then explained the likely forces behind these problems. What else do you want in 750 or so words?Again, well done, Dr. Zakaria.
Posted By: Freddif @ 01/10/2008 4:29:08 PM

Comment: Fareed, very good column, however I wish there could be graphs or pie charts to further explain the divisions.
Freddif
Posted By: Houlbelat @ 01/09/2008 2:04:02 PM

Comment: If Musharraf is really fighting terror than his godfathers must do some extra home-work to make things work. But, from the ground realities, 12/27 is a continuation of 9/11 agenda. Benazir Bhutto's ghastly end is the new Ground Zero. Her assassination has triggered a chain reaction of destruction in Pakistan which in practical terms is much more devastating than the WTC. It is a declaration of war against Pakistan by those who want it to disintegrate. As an aftermath of 12/27, Pakistan is already on road to the stone-age. With its economy shattered, wheat disappeared, power supply on ration, rolling stock destroyed beyond subsistence, banks looted, election machinery burnt and finally, hope for survival bombed, what remains is a ghost of a country which had started and progressed most enviously to atomic power.

Important questions: Who is pulling the strings of the puppet Musharraf? What is the real terror agenda? If Ghost Saddam is killed then which and where are his re-emerged tentacles? If it is not for oil than what is the bigger than oil treasure? Nobody has seen Osama bin Ladan for over six years and he was known to be on dialysis. Even the doctors treating him were apprehended and imprisoned in Pakistan. Than, what evidence proves he is still alive and kicking around spreading perpetual terror?

Benazir Bhutto was assured and reassured of her safety by those who sent her back to Pakistan. Musharraf was made to eat his honor by agreeing to wash her dirty linen of corruption and drop all cases against her. But still, she lost her life under most perplexing circumstances. One single question is enough to over ride all other. That is, what prompted her to make the suicidal error of judgment when she emerged from her armored vehicle and exposed herself to the attackers at point blank range? Definitely, the attackers were not expected to know her impulsive actions.
Posted By: SAQIB @ 01/09/2008 12:25:15 PM

Comment: The issue discussed in the column that this is an unmanageable world is real one.Although deftly brought to light all the burning questions of today,s politics all around the world yet one side is lacking in the column.That is the analysis of the causes behind all this cleavage in the nations.Why kenayans are at daggers drawn at their fellows?why the sindhi pujabi etc divide is widening in Pakistan?why the villainous characters like Modi are victorious everywhere in india?Why the iranians backing is not needed for fuming the violence in palestine?Why the kosovans are not being given the right to secede when they can make headway without the help of any dominant state?These are the questions that are not touched upon by the learned writer.Although he and all of us know the hands or factors behind all this pallmall in the world yet being general public can do nothing. It does not matter from where we belong to as people all over world are the ruledone,s without having any say in the daily affairs of the state.
Posted By: SHAHZKL @ 01/09/2008 1:39:56 AM

Comment: It is a sad reality, that inspite of India's secular domocratic claims, this country and its fundamentalist Hindu parties like Shiv Sena, openly advocate and support the systematic killing of muslim and christian minorities. Mr Modi won the elections even after he was found guilty of being at the back of gruesome killings of muslims in Gujrat. It is only India's independent Supreme Court, which provides relief and security to minorities against these murderous attacks.
Posted By: zpierce726 @ 01/08/2008 6:56:47 PM

Comment: You say there are no good answers to the problem of factionalization, but I propose this one; allow factions to indeed secede from their parent countries and govern themselves. Modern democracy is set up so that many different ethnic groups compete for power in a central government in a winner take all fashion, such that larger groups make decisions for the whole country which may not be in the smaller groups' best interests. If we can reject the idea that nations need to be large and powerful, including our own U.S. government, ethnic groups can govern themselves with the protection of a strong U.N, which would indeed be stronger in a world with many small nations depending on U.N. protection. I am a Vermont secessionist who believes this newer approach to governmental philosiphy can be beneficial in solving our own problems as well as those of people abroad.
Posted By: hypnotoad3000 @ 01/08/2008 3:49:26 PM

Comment: Very interesting stuff, a new way to look at the factionalization in Pakistan.

Ray Robison is the author of Both In One Trench: Saddam's Secret Terror Documents'

http://www.bothinonetrench.com
Posted By: ronnieg1 @ 01/08/2008 9:57:17 AM

Comment: Zakaria is a hypocrite. He failed to mention that Gujarat "pogrom" occured after 70 Hindus were burnt alive by Muslims. He failed to mention massacre and ethnic cleansing on Hindus in Kashmir by Muslims. He failed to mention 50 Islamic states which openly discriminate against non-Muslims including Saudi Arabia where you can not take in a Bible.
- Posted By: hmmm5 @ 01/08/2008 10:04:06 PM
  
  Comment: Oh shut up. What massacre of Hindus in Kashmir? Muslims are the victims in Kashmir without a doubt. Just go and ask Human Right Watches. They will tell you the atrocities done by the Indian army against the Muslim dominated population. 50 Islamic States openly discriminate against non-Muslim???? Are you freaking dumb. I was not expecting trolls on Newsweek board.
  - Posted By: Shikhas @ 01/18/2008 6:36:47 AM
    
    Comment: Do you know anything about Kashmir?? Or is it only from the doctored version you would have read in such international magzines who have no assessment of real ground situation. before making a judgement, you should try and visit the resettlement colony of Kasmiri pandits in New Delhi. Militants in Kashmir have targetted them selectively forcing them to leave the land of their forefathers.
Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/08/2008 3:14:54 AM

Comment: It is between the country's various regions. And in this regard, Pakistan is part of a growing phenomenon???the persistence and growing strength of subnational groups. With the end of the battle of ideologies???communism, socialism, liberalism???human beings' oldest identities have moved to the core of politics. It is why people vote and what they will die for.
THIS IS A UNIVERSAL LAW, RACE IS A FACTOR EVERYWHERE. HINDUS , pAKISTANI'S , BANGLADESH ARE OF THE SAME RACE BUT DIFFERENT RELIGION. INDIANS HATE THE pACISTANI'S BECAUSE pACISTAN USED TO BE pART OF INDIA. WE CAN THANK THE INTELLIGENT BRITISH FOR CREATING THE ENVIORNMENT FOR THE pALESTENIAN ISRAELI CONFLICT AND THE DIVISION OF INDIA. yOU CANNOT COMpARE pACISTAN AND KENYA. AFRICA IN GENERAL IS NOT CABABLE OF GOVERNING ITSELF. THERE pOpULATION IS NOT READY FOR DEMOCRACY, EVENTUALLY WHOLE RACES WILL BE EXTINCT IN AFRICA. KASHMIR THIS IS WHAT AMERICANS ARE INTERESTED IN.
pACISTANI'S SHOULD DEVELOp ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIp WITH INDIA SO THEY DO NOT WIpE THEMSELVES OF THE MAp. aMERICAN MONEY SEEMS TO BE EMpOWERING ALL TYpES OF GROUpS AROUND THE WORLD.
Posted By: mTariq8 @ 01/08/2008 2:06:58 AM

Comment: Military dictators like Zia and Musharraf, have fanned and encouraged regional ethnic parties and sectarian divides in order to defeat the main political parties, which enjoy support in all four federating units of Pakistan. While this may have helped them prolong their illegitimate rule, it has encouraged rise of extremist and fascist parties like the Chaudhries of Gujrat and MQM mobsters. The last 8 years have witnessed the resort to use of violence as tool to suppress, intimidate, harras and silence political dissenters both by the junta and their coalition partners.
Mr Modi's electoral win in India is a slur on India's secular image
Posted By: mTariq8 @ 01/08/2008 1:55:05 AM

Comment: Musharraf's rule has seen a rise in extremism and weakening of moderate political parties, who enjoy popular support, but are harrased by the establishment and their political allies like the the notorious Chaudhries of Gujrat with their lethal Nath brigaes and the MQM mobsters. The security apparatus continues to haunt liberal civil society while extremism has grown in the last 8 years.
Posted By: mTariq8 @ 01/08/2008 1:48:23 AM

Comment: Musharraf has fanned ethnic divisions in Pakistan to dent the major political parties like PPP and PML(N), in order to prolong his unpopular dictatorial rule, It is unfortunate that the military establishment during both ZIa Ul Haq and Musharraf rule have been involved in the dangerous practice of promoting ethnic, sectarian, religious and regional nationalist parties, just to weaken the political process. In doing so by default or design, they have fomented extremism in Pakistan. Musharraf's major political allies namely the notorious Chaudhries of Gujrat with their Nath brigades and the fascist MQM with their mobsters, both of whom resort to use of violence as a tool to harras and kill their opponents have damaged the country's moderate political parties with a foothold in all four provinces. It is pertinent to note that 80% of muhajirs or immigrants settled in Frontier and Punjab have nothing to do with MQM, which enjoys support of 65% of the rest of 20% migrants settled in Sindh urban areas. The only way to defeat rise of extremism is to hold free and fair elections, which are not possible without a credible independent Election Commission, or a judiciary and a neutral caretaker setup.
Mr Modis elecoral win is a blur on India's secular image, since he was involved in the massacre and rape of thousands of muslims.
- Posted By: SHAHZKL @ 01/08/2008 3:36:01 AM
  
  Comment: Musharraf has been openly supportive of the strongarm tactics of Pervaiz Chaudhry in Punjab and MQM in Karachi. Moderate political parties have been tormented by general and his coalition partners. There are no independent courts after the sacking of over 55 members of higher judiciary led by former Chief justice Iftikhar. Moderate liberal and democratic men of credibilty like eminent lawyers Aitzaz Ahsan, Tariq Mahmud, Ali Kurd, Chief Justice Iftikhar and several others have been held in prison, against all rules, at the whim of the junta. Mass killings of innocent citizens on the streets of Karachi on 12 May, 18 Oct and previously at Nishtar Park have been deliberately not been investigated, because the juntas coalition partners were involved. The hundreds of white shalwar kameez attired thugs who brutally beat the lawyers and jounalists in Islamabad belonged to notorious Nath Brigade of Chaudhries of Gujrat. This is a dangerous role of the establishment supported parties. An independent judiciary and a credible Election Comm is needed to hold free and fair elections, which is not available at the present. (Shazkl)
Posted By: eikana1976 @ 01/07/2008 11:36:34 PM

Comment: Interesting, seems really hard to live that way
Posted By: ronnieg1 @ 01/07/2008 9:51:54 PM

Comment: Another Indian Muslim (Zakaria) lashing out at India while keeping mum on 50 plus intolerant Islamic natiions which have killed off and driven away all non-Muslims, including the land of birthplace of his prophet. I bet Zakaria would not spare a thought on the "pogrom"of 400,0000 Hindus massacred and driven out by Muslims in Kashmir nor would he mention numerous Muslim terrorist strikes all over India targeting Hindu civilians
Posted By: liberalguy @ 01/07/2008 3:45:17 PM

Comment: Great emotional moment for Hillary,with war almost breaking out in Iran,just yesterday when Iranian boats attacked us warships, that just reminds us we need strong leader like hillaRY.If obama gets nomination which I seriously doubt,I will vote for huckabee or mmccain, I feel hillaryis stronger than huckabee on military and is almost equal to mccain.I am liberal on domestic issues but a little conservative on national defense. The jewish and hispanic vote will overhemlinly go for hillary in newyork,,calif and florida among democratic primary voters.If obama gets nominee gets nominee I will vote for mccainin heart beat, but it is not going to happen you see me being form claif, and v oters in newyork and florida are much more educted,and vote with their brains not with their hearts, unlike those dome hick from iowa and new hamphire, have many friend that have alrezdy voted absentee for hillary in calif. were she has 35 point lead so its over for barack.Happy newy year everybody.
somcerely . dave weinberg
- Posted By: observer101 @ 01/10/2008 3:51:46 PM
  
  Comment: maybe if she cries somemore she will get nominated...and I am from California and believe me ppl there are nothing to brag about. They are fake, self centered, money hungry, greedy liars...Just like Hillary.
Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/07/2008 1:17:03 AM

Comment: HERE IN AMERICA WE ARE WILLING TO DIE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND FAMILY. I THINK IT IS PART OF HUMAN INSTINCT. WE WILL NEVER LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD, BUT WE CANNOT STOP TRYING. THE WAY THINGS ARE LOOKING, MAN IS NOT CONTENT ENOUGH TO KILL EACHOTHER THEY ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO KILLING THIS PLANET AND EVERYTHING ON IT. WE ARE LUCKY WE HAVE A PLANET TO FIGHT ON. IT ONLY TAKES ON CATASTROPHIC EVENT TO REALIZE THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOTHING. SMALL GROUPS CAN BE TAMED HOWEVER IF THEY GET A HOLD OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY IT IS A PROBLEM.
Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/07/2008 1:11:03 AM

Comment: It is between the country's various regions. And in this regard, Pakistan is part of a growing phenomenon???the persistence and growing strength of subnational groups. With the end of the battle of ideologies???communism, socialism, liberalism???human beings' oldest identities have moved to the core of politics. It is why people vote and what they will die for.
THIS IS A UNIVERSAL LAW, RACE IS A FACTOR EVERYWHERE. HINDUS , pAKISTANI'S , BANGLADESH ARE OF THE SAME RACE BUT DIFFERENT RELIGION. INDIANS HATE THE pACISTANI'S BECAUSE pACISTAN USED TO BE pART OF INDIA. WE CAN THANK THE INTELLIGENT BRITISH FOR CREATING THE ENVIORNMENT FOR THE pALESTENIAN ISRAELI CONFLICT AND THE DIVISION OF INDIA. yOU CANNOT COMpARE pACISTAN AND KENYA. AFRICA IN GENERAL IS NOT CABABLE OF GOVERNING ITSELF. THERE pOpULATION IS NOT READY FOR DEMOCRACY, EVENTUALLY WHOLE RACES WILL BE EXTINCT IN AFRICA. KASHMIR THIS IS WHAT AMERICANS ARE INTERESTED IN.
pACISTANI'S SHOULD DEVELOp ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIp WITH INDIA SO THEY DO NOT WIpE THEMSELVES OF THE MAp. aMERICAN MONEY SEEMS TO BE EMpOWERING ALL TYpES OF GROUpS AROUND THE WORLD.
Posted By: Markwri @ 01/07/2008 12:07:14 AM

Comment: LACK of visible Better opportunity is what people die for. The current Freedom of Death for many in the troubled regions becomes perceived as Thee Best option, vs living in an era where there seems to be nothing else left to lose. Keep in mind, the tools of that Freedom of death today Also Kill many more, thus that supposedly brings to light More attention to the first cause which is truly Lack of Other decent opportunity.
Also, and basically the same perceptive reason is: The threat of Less opportunity than currently exists.
Thus the death statements we're witnessing Worldwide ( in the USA school massacres ARE the same thing ) could be mostly versed as: Death is just the freedom won, when there is nothing left to lose.
Posted By: LeoTex @ 01/06/2008 5:44:23 PM

Comment: I agree with most of what you have written. However, there is another reason of the emergence of these sub-nationalists. It's the easy accessibility of arms, these nation-states no longer have the monopoly over sophisticated arms the way they had back in 60's or '70s. We are living in an age of road-side bombs, rocket launchers and other deadly weapons. In Iraq a world power is under siege by IEDs, youths with AK-47 and rocket launchers are creating problem s for Israel, Pakistan, Turkey and other countries.

And this isn't a new phenomenon either. For much of its history the World has seen autonomous states within ethnic or nationalistic lines. India was a collection of city and small states under the Turkish and Mogul rule, the Abbasids and Ottoman Empires, Czarist Russia, Imperial Germany were also ruled by autonomous regions, with a figurehead central government. That trend ended with the European Colonialism, because of their military superiority and now only re-surfacing as the military superiority of these nation-states can now be easily undermined with the availability of these sophisticated counter-armaments.
Posted By: satya @ 01/06/2008 4:46:08 PM

Comment: I generally like your views, in fact i can be counted as your fan.However, your mention of Gujarat as ' first genuine pogrom' is based on factual inaccuracy.I generally like your views, in fact i can be counted as your fan.However, your mention of Gujarat as ' first genuine pogrom' is based on factual inaccuracy.The first pogrom ( i.e. with state's complicity in targetting a certain section of the society) of india was in Delhi, after the killing of Rajeev Gandhi. You may like to see SA Aiyar's ( Timesofindia) article '' My murders are better than yours' where he has presented the figures , facts and the so called secular views. Make your own call...reproducing part of his article here :

According to data tabled in Parliament, the 2002 toll in Gujarat was 790 dead Muslims, 254 dead Hindus, and 223 people missing. Far more were killed in Delhi in 1984.

Many critics call Modi a fascist who carries out pogroms. They do not apply the same label to the Congress. Yet, the 1984 data are more suggestive of a pogrom than the 2002 data. The Hindu casualties in 2002 were a quarter of the total, suggesting two-way violence (even though Muslims suffered far more). But no Hindus died in Delhi, so it looks much more like a pogrom.

Around 190 people were killed in police firing in Gujarat, of whom slightly over half were Muslims. This confirms suspicions that the Gujarat police came down very harshly on Muslim rioters while treating Hindu mobs lightly. Yet, in 1984 there was no police firing at all on Hindu mobs. The Congress messengers of death co-opted the police more thoroughly than their imitators in Gujarat.

So, on virtually every parameter you can measure, 1984 was worse than 2002. Why then is Modi called a fascist while the Congress is heralded as a secular saviour?
Posted By: shahnagri @ 01/06/2008 7:00:42 AM

Comment: Pakistan is the centre of world 's oldest civilisations.The world will soon learn much more out of Pakistan .
Posted By: Tamil @ 01/06/2008 5:34:19 AM

Comment: Why do you forget Tamils and Kashmiris who are also seeing the dreams of independance from the brutal India.
Posted By: Tamil @ 01/06/2008 5:12:35 AM

Comment: Yes now it seems in Newsweek as well that how a black immegrant has supported a Black Presidential Candidate which can lead the country as having the poeople die for it as we have already some in the youthz..God forbid.
Posted By: phiomalibumalibu @ 01/06/2008 12:00:58 AM

Comment: I would die for a set of breast enhancements like my sister got at finestimplants.com
Posted By: Shikarpuri @ 01/05/2008 7:54:59 PM

Comment: The fault lines of "subnationalism" have their own history. Sindh was an independent country for over 2000 years (it was invaded from time to time, e.g, the Arabs invaded it in the 7th century) and the one of the last to fall to the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent, inspiring the Punch satirical cartoon showing Gen. Napier cabling 'Pecave'. Sindh oarliament voted to join Pakistan with the promise of "autonomy and sovereignty" and "protection of minorities" embodied in the 1940 resolution
The Baluch created their country when 44 Baluch tribes joined a confederacy in the 12th century under Mir Jalal Khan. Subsequently, the Baloch suffered Mogul and Tatar invasions in the 13th and 14th century. But the Baloch emerged as an independent country under Rind Lashkari in the 15th century. The Khanate of Baluchistan (under Kalat) in the 17th century.

The British signed a succession of treaties (1854, 1876, 1895) with the Khan, recognize his sovereignty in exchange for controlling foreign affairs. Hennery McMahon Anglo-Afghan Boundary Commission (1895) ceded 70,000 square km to Afghanistan with Baloch approval.

"It was a cardinal rule to attempt no disintegration of the Khan of Kalat's sovereignty, whether nominal or real, over the Baloch tribes, but rather by every means in our power to uphold his authority???The Khan was regarded as our independent ally, free to act as he pleased in internal affairs, but externally subordinate to the English Government in all that could affect anything beyond his own borders."
--- Sir Bartle Frere (1876)

In 1947, Pakistan concluded an agreement with Baluchistan. The "Standstill Agreement" between Kalat and Pakistan on August 4, 1947 stipulated: "The Government of Pakistan agrees that Kalat is an independent state, being quite different in status from other states of India". Pakistan invaded Baluchistan in 1948.

The predominantly sufi Sindhis feel betrayed by a centralized, militant and Islamist Pakistan. The Baluch feel they are suffering from neo-colonialism. The fissures are understandable in this historic light, and should not be viewed as some kind of tribalism.
- Posted By: SAQIB @ 01/09/2008 12:46:21 PM
  
  Comment: the stuff given in comments is the representative of prejudice against the federation of Pakistan.commentator has has used anachronism to support his or her ideas.if the commentator has any grudge against the rulers he can state it in clear terms .arguments given here are totally abject and need correction.

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Posted By: Shikhas @ 01/18/2008 6:12:59 AM

Posted By: sundeep @ 01/18/2008 1:07:03 AM

Posted By: sundeep @ 01/18/2008 1:03:58 AM

Posted By: SHAHZKL @ 01/16/2008 1:32:14 AM

Posted By: amjad_in @ 01/15/2008 8:41:21 AM

Posted By: amjad_in @ 01/15/2008 8:39:33 AM

Posted By: nocabbages @ 01/15/2008 6:33:57 AM

Posted By: JS01 @ 01/14/2008 1:50:32 AM

Posted By: Charu @ 01/13/2008 2:36:14 PM

Posted By: jhayner @ 01/12/2008 12:33:57 PM

Posted By: A Fan @ 01/11/2008 4:22:34 PM

Posted By: A Fan @ 01/11/2008 4:19:57 PM

Posted By: Stellakk @ 01/11/2008 1:45:42 PM

Posted By: Stellakk @ 01/11/2008 1:45:37 PM

Posted By: naheiman @ 01/11/2008 3:29:14 AM

Posted By: Freddif @ 01/10/2008 4:29:08 PM

Posted By: Houlbelat @ 01/09/2008 2:04:02 PM

Posted By: SAQIB @ 01/09/2008 12:25:15 PM

Posted By: SHAHZKL @ 01/09/2008 1:39:56 AM

Posted By: zpierce726 @ 01/08/2008 6:56:47 PM

Posted By: hypnotoad3000 @ 01/08/2008 3:49:26 PM

Posted By: ronnieg1 @ 01/08/2008 9:57:17 AM

Posted By: hmmm5 @ 01/08/2008 10:04:06 PM

Posted By: Shikhas @ 01/18/2008 6:36:47 AM

Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/08/2008 3:14:54 AM

Posted By: mTariq8 @ 01/08/2008 2:06:58 AM

Posted By: mTariq8 @ 01/08/2008 1:55:05 AM

Posted By: mTariq8 @ 01/08/2008 1:48:23 AM

Posted By: SHAHZKL @ 01/08/2008 3:36:01 AM

Posted By: eikana1976 @ 01/07/2008 11:36:34 PM

Posted By: ronnieg1 @ 01/07/2008 9:51:54 PM

Posted By: liberalguy @ 01/07/2008 3:45:17 PM

Posted By: observer101 @ 01/10/2008 3:51:46 PM

Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/07/2008 1:17:03 AM

Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/07/2008 1:11:03 AM

Posted By: Markwri @ 01/07/2008 12:07:14 AM

Posted By: LeoTex @ 01/06/2008 5:44:23 PM

Posted By: satya @ 01/06/2008 4:46:08 PM

Posted By: shahnagri @ 01/06/2008 7:00:42 AM

Posted By: Tamil @ 01/06/2008 5:34:19 AM

Posted By: Tamil @ 01/06/2008 5:12:35 AM

Posted By: phiomalibumalibu @ 01/06/2008 12:00:58 AM

Posted By: Shikarpuri @ 01/05/2008 7:54:59 PM

Posted By: SAQIB @ 01/09/2008 12:46:21 PM

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The General's Marching Orders

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