
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 27th, 2011.
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