It is not emphasised enough in our history books that the dominant political sentiment amongst Pakhtuns to the east of the Durand Line in 1947 was anti-partition. Playing up their link to both India and Afghanistan, the newly born Pakistani state subjected Pakhtun nationalists — whose base was the populous and wealthy Peshawar Valley — to political victimisation. At the same time, the state patronised so-called ‘tribal’ Pakhtuns who were considered loyal and easy to mobilise in defence of the country. In short, from the early years the state adopted a carrot and stick policy vis-à-vis the Pakhtuns.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:15:50 +0000