All princely states at the time of Partition had two options only: To choose either India or Pakistan.
KARACHI: This is with reference to Yaqoob Khan Bangash’s article of July 19 titled “Foundations of the Baloch problem”. All princely states at the time of Partition had two options only: To choose either India or Pakistan. The third option of independence was never considered since that would have led to a Balkanisation of the subcontinent. The ruler of the erstwhile state of Kalat chose the only viable option, which was to merge with Pakistan. That said, it is certainly correct that Balochistan as a whole — which was only made a full province in 1970 after the break-up of the One Unit lunacy — has had a raw deal from Islamabad, dominated by the centre, which in turn is dominated by the army.
Shahzad A Shaikh
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2011.
