One cannot absolutely define Nation States in terms of an absolute race or Religion. That leads to Fascism. Nation states come into being due to certain events in history. Status Quo is established. Region and its people are consolidated and unified with the passage of time and identities are developed. People start to become dependent on each other for Development and Security. Then they start to relate to each other. It’s a natural process.
Identities are developed with time not some god sent thing. We are all one race one species. No one is Alien. People need to understand this basic fact.
As for Pakistan Some people take it back to Indus Valley Civilization period but I won’t go that far back because there is a big gap between the Indus Valley civilization settlements and later Settlers. There is no continuity. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro settlers were like 4500 Years ago. While Texila was 3000 Years ago.
While those ancient people were destroyed by Invaders like Persians, Greeks, Aryans etc.
The KNOWN Population centers of the region called Pakistan Today. Baluchistan, Sindh and South Punjab have been unified under a common government for almost 1200 Years. With Arab Conquest of Firstly the Makran coast and then Sindh and South Punjab upto Multan. Whole of Medern day Pakistan was then united under Ghaznavi Rule (Except Sindh) with central Asia, Then Came the Ghauris which also kept this region together. Then the Delhi Sultanate of Mamluks Who also defended these lands against the Mongol Invasions (Give and take some periods of Brief Wars and Rebellions) Also kept this region united with Central Bharat. And then Mughals of Central Asia. And then Ahmad Shah Durrani. Also Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Gujranwala. This Region of Indus Valley Basin along with Makran and Pashtuun Tribes have been loosely united under one ruler or another for over a thousand years until the British came. Which United the Whole of Subcontinent. And Finally we had Pakistan.
Surprisingly We have been together with North Indians and Bengalis for a Long time under different kingdoms. But almost never were united with South Indians which were Always resisting to foreign Rule and Fighting on. South India have historically been united and independent clashed and stayed away from Muslim Ruled North waging wars on north Indians compared to contemporary Pakistanis. For Example The Kakatya Dynasty, Vajayanagara Empire, Kingdom of Mysore, Maratha Empire etc.
Pakistan Region can relate to each other with historical ties of Almost 1000 years without looking to Arabs Persians or Turks for identity. But the problem is we were never self ruled and independent as a unified entity during these 1000 years. May be perhaps Ranjit Singh of Punjab and Talpurs of Sindh Came close to become independent Local Rulers without being a vessel to anyone. And its hard to carve out a self governing Identity out of a sudden. It will take time but it will be done.
And the argument of outsiders and indigenous people is also flawed the way it is used in modern national dynamics by some groups. People who once came as outsiders if settle become indigenous over the centuries That is natural. Anatolian Turks are basically Descendants of Mongols Turks. Cousins to Mamluks that ruled Delhi Sultanate. People are not anchored to an area and should be there for thousands of years to become a nation relating to that region.
What a useless thread and such a non-issue.
Its not a non issue. You have a strong Establishment that wont anyone budge against state narrative. Their is no significant power circle except the federation. But things don't always remain the same. Considering Politicians gaining more and more strength day by day.
Its not a very good approach to always depend on authority for national union. We must Root out these Sensitive topics and resolve these fault lines. while we are strong and we have time to. I don't think solely relying on Muslim Identity is good approach. Its a good Uniting Factor but we need to Pakistanise people more. Considering our geo-political situation. The rebellion of so many Pakistanis against The State during Afghan Invasion by US Coalition is in recent memories. People born in Karachi were stating fatwas against Islamabad for not helping a lost cause of Afghanistan. Even people in Armed forces were reluctant to fight against Taliban in FATA because of shared Religion. Thats dangerous for a nation state. Try to speak against Turkey or Iran or Saudia Policies and their Citizen will rip you to pieces even abuse you and will not care for your religion. While our fellow Pakistanis Start to TC everyone From Muslim countries with brotherhood narrative. Its a mindset you can easily observe on the internet
Syrians and Iraqis never thought that Kurdish question will ever raise when they were beating the Drums of Arab Nationalism for decades. See now the Cat is out of the bag and Kurdish lands are gone for ever. While Turks Never encouraged Racial Nationalist Narrative even though they have the largest Majority of Kurds and see majority of kurds are embedded into Turkish national fabric because they RESOLVED these ideological issues while they had time and carved out a Nationalistic approach that absorbed everyone living inside Turkish border.
