Ethnic Diversity and Nationahood in Pakistan : A Study

Abstract

The history of Pakistan as a nation indicates that it was formed on the singular ideology of 'Islam as a state religion. However, the 'Two-Nation' theory, on which Pakistan demanded a separate statehood, proved futile after the 1971 bifurcation of the 'Islamic state' into two independent states. It appears that other factors other than religion have played an important role in the formation of Pakistan as a nation.So, instead of looking at Pakistan through the prism of religion alone, the rise of ethnic movements of various groups' calls for a different approach. Since its inception, Pakistan has witnessed numerous turbulent events, many of which were driven by ethnic conflicts. The parting of the eastern wing of Pakistan in 1971, the upsurge in the interior of Sindh, repeated resistance movements in Balochistan, the unsettled grievances of Pashtuns, and the highly discontented Muhajirs, underline the explosive nature of Pakistan's ethnic problems and the failure on the part of the state to come in terms with the ethnic diversity of the country. As the understanding of any problem precedes the solutions, it becomes crucial to have a deep analysis of the ethnic problems of Pakistan. The sustenance of the multi-ethnic culture weaving it with the concept of the nation-state is vital for its survival.