I don't understand why identity has been an issue for Pakistanis after all this time we have been Pakistanis. If British/French/etc. can go to Australia and have an Australian identity. If British/French/Germans can go to North America and have a Canadian/American identity...
...then why is this still an issue for us?
It is precisely this conflict that led to the creation of Bangladesh. It created an "us vs them" narrative, where "Bengalis" saw themselves at odds with "Punjabis" or "west Pakistanis"...and "west Pakistanis" looked down on "Bengalis". Had we all considered each other and ourselves "Pakistanis"...all as sons of the soil...it would've promoted more unity/brotherhood and an "us vs them" narrative would've been hard to come by. Even today a lot of idiots make their career in politics based on creating such divide for Muhajir/Punjabi/Sindhi/Baloch/etc...and ppl start following like blind sheep.
Yes we can be Punjabi/Pukhtoon/etc. and take pride in our heritage but WE ARE ALL PAKISTANIS. We don't need validation from anyone neither arabs nor indians nor anyone who tries to tell us who we are or where we come from. We took Pakistan for us so we can live free...and that's that.