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Persianized “Sindhi Tahzeeb”.) However, such a problem does not exist. The<br />
native nationalism of people in Pakistan has asserted itself; Islam is only a thin<br />
superimposition on their nationalism. They would all like to come into their own<br />
--- and not be a nuisance to one another. Even Punjab would recognize that since<br />
the Vedic times Sindh and Punjab have been separate states --- then known as<br />
Sindhu and Sauvira, respectively. The one had its centre at Mooanjo-daro, the<br />
other at Harappa. The ancient realities are asserting themselves. Verily, the more<br />
we change the more we remain the same. The Sindhis remain Sindhis and the<br />
Punjabis remain Punjabis and not even Islam can make them all “Pakistanis”.<br />
In this situation a confederal arragement, with a certain friendly freedom for all<br />
the four provinces, should be the right solution for the Pakistani problem.<br />
But how would the USA view the matter? It looks upon Pakistan as one of its<br />
two policemen in West Asia --- the other one being Israel. Israel keeps the Arab<br />
states in line from the out side; Pakistan, being Muslim, is in a position to keep<br />
them in line from the inside. This internal police role of Pakistan, in the service of<br />
the USA, could be allowed to continue for some time while Pakistan is<br />
reorganized internally. After all, if the UK can recruit troops in Kathmandu, the<br />
USA may recruit troops in Lahore --- if that is what the two sides want!<br />
Hopefully, as oil exhausts itself, the USA will have a diminishing strategic<br />
interest in the Pakistani area.<br />
An assurance that the American strategic interests in Pakistan will not be<br />
adversely affected, underwritten by lndia, the paramount power in South Asia,<br />
could reconcile the USA to a more realistic reorganization of the Pakistani areas.<br />
There is another problem. A confederation tends to become a federation --- and a<br />
federation tends to become more unitary than federal; otherwise it tends to break<br />
up into so many constituent units. Since the Pakistanis have tried the unitary<br />
experiment and rejected it, they could now drift apart into complete<br />
independence. If that is their free will, so be it. However, the Indus river system<br />
will always bind them together in economic cooperation. Punjab can be<br />
guaranteed free access to Karachi harbour. Indeed while politically a part of<br />
Sindh, the Karachi port area could be administered jointly by the four provinces.<br />
That should satisfy all the provinces.<br />
Nor need the refugees fear for their future in Sindh. A few years ago they had<br />
said that India should care for them also, since they too were “persons of Indian<br />
origin”. However, there is no defence like amity. Otherwise the refugee islands<br />
in the cities of Sindh could always be overwhelmed by the sea of rural Sindhi<br />
humanity. But refugees in Sindh need have no such fear. Nobody will any more<br />
call them Makar (locusts) in Sindh, once they make their peace with the Sindhis.<br />
The Sindh Story; Copyright © www.panhwar.com<br />
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