Looking at Sudan

The emergence of the new nation puts an end to the 50-year conflict between rebels and the government.

Pakistan has become the 88^th country in the world to recognise southern Sudan as an independent state. The country is now the 193^rd member of the UN. The emergence of the new nation puts an end to the 50-year conflict between rebels in the south of the country and an oppressive government in Khartoum which had been battling them with extreme force. The same policy of suppression was followed by one government after the other. This perhaps is one reason why the overwhelming majority of people in southern Sudan, 99 per cent in fact, voted for independence when a referendum was held under tough international pressure in January this year.

As Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announces his recognition of the new country, one wonders if he has given any thought to what this means for Pakistan. We are of course no strangers to internal conflict. Even now, one rages on in Balochistan. In the past, we have seen the outcome of similar neglect of the opinions of people in Bangladesh. There is a message in all this for us to consider. When people are ignored, and no effort made to grant them the rights they demand, there are bound to be problems. In southern Sudan, one of these hinged around the use of the region’s rich resources to benefit other parts of the country. These were not shared with the impoverished south. Again, this is a situation not unfamiliar to us.

A new country has appeared on the world map. For the people of South Sudan, this is very good news. It is also good news for the rest of the world which sees an end to a conflict that had appeared to continue year after year and decade after decade. It is important, however, that the factors that lead to cessation be carefully considered. It is always sad when people are unable to live together or settle differences peacefully. Ways must be found to avoid this as far as possible everywhere, including in Pakistan, which has struggled to hold its diverse population together for decades.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th,  2011.