Why is the army so popular in Pakistan?
In September last year, the BBC reported the army telling the government it would need to spend an additional $1.28 billion. This money, Pakistan then informed the IMF, would come from a 50 per cent cut in the development budget and a 20 per cent cut in the non-development budget, the report had said.
No nation can prosper by halving its development budget. But Pakistanis approve of this. Indeed, they are enthusiastic about it (if they think about it at all) given the army’s popularity. Let us try and understand why.
India’s national anthem was composed in December 1911, a century ago and 36 years before Partition. The anthem announces the geography of India. The first two regions we sing of are Punjab and Sindh. After Partition, of these two states, India got a third of one and nothing of the other. However, the anthem’s words do not seem out of place today. A Punjabi is India’s prime minister, and Sindh and the Indus are how India got its name.
What is remarkable is that even in 1911, Balochistan and the Northwest frontier were not a part of the India of our imagination. The Pathan has always been a foreigner, even as a Bollywood character.
At Partition, few Baloch Hindus were displaced and no Pashtun Hindus, because there were none. These two places were unaffected by Partition. The Partition of India on the west was actually only the partition of Punjab.
Punjabis were savage with one another. Today, few Muslims remain in Indian Punjab, having been thrown out or killed, and almost no Sikhs and Hindus remain in Pakistani Punjab. So it was religious partitioning, but this is unimportant. The partition of Punjab was also a partition of its castes. This separation is its critical aspect and it defines the character of Pakistani Punjab. What had been a stable society in united Punjab became lighter on the side of the castes the Hindus dominated — trade, commerce — and heavier on the side of the peasant castes, which Muslims dominated. It is true that the largest component of all three Punjabi faiths — Muslim, Sikh and Hindu was the peasantry — and it was the dominant component of the British Indian army.
However, the Hindu Punjabis had a very large mercantile population, comprising Khatris, Aroras and the Vaish (Baniyas). They were the creators of wealth and are today all in India. Two of these castes (Khatris and Aroras) were present in strong numbers in the Sikhs. Muslims had very few Khatris and no Baniyas. This is why Pakistani Punjab, though it contains over half of Pakistan’s population, does not dominate the country’s economy.
The economy of Pakistan is commanded by one city in Sindh, Karachi. Over 50 per cent of all government revenue comes from Karachi.
Despite the violence in Karachi, which is mainly of a secular nature, Sindh is more normal than Punjab. One reason for this is because it has a stable society. How? The Sindhi Hindus who left at Partition were replaced by two communities. One was the educated middle class of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the Mohajirs. The gap in the trading community created by the migration of Hindus was filled by Muslim Gujaratis of the Lohana caste — Memon, Khoja and Vora. Quaid-e-Azam was also a Lohana, one of the most talented and prosperous trading castes of India.
This is why Sindh is more normal than Punjab, despite the Mohajir-Pashtun skirmishes in Karachi. Because it is a stable society in terms of balance between those parts that are feudal and those parts that are mercantile. This balance is missing in Punjab.
Pakistanis may feel offended at such reduction in their identity to what might be seen as a purely Hindu currency, caste. However, it is impossible to understand India without being aware of caste and I see no reason why this should not be true for the area that used to be India till 65 years ago.
I would say that the Baloch are a nation, Pashtuns are a nation, Gujaratis are a nation, Tamilians are a nation and Punjabis are a nation. But Punjabi Muslims are not a nation, only half a nation.
How does this imbalance manifest itself in the way Punjab views the army? We shall explore that next week.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (102)
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Major sahib,
Please enlighten us about the facts sirji.
He has not mentioned that Nuclear Bombs are even more then India despite that our population is 7th of them, economy 10th and Army half.
I think the article is poorly written and lacks sense as well as credible evidence. It also reflects the authors preoccupation with Hindu caste system (which itself is the worst discriminatory system that human kind can invent). The author has tried to impose the idea that 99% of Pakistani's dont like their Army and its just surviving on a handfull of Punjabis. I think this is other way round. The reasons for a slight Punjabi domination are obvious, since pre-partition times People of Punjab and NWFP have been in the martial jobs. However today a sizeable number of Sindhi also form part of the army. It is a mistan concept that establishment doesnt allow Sindhi or Balochis to join forces. Infact they are encouraged to join. Its their own free will based on their cultural and socioeconmic norms that they have been less inclined towards army jobs. As far as expenses on militray expenditures are concerned, may i only ask the author that Why India is maintaining a nuclear powered Army over 1 Million?? Is she afraid of Sri Lanka or Bhutan??
Army is and will remain popular in Pakistan becoz it has its roots amongst common people of Pakistan, because its visibly corruption free, becuase it utilizes its resourses in better manner compared to many other institutions and coorporations and because people have trust in it.
@Wasim:
Wasim ... No answer? Or do u smell a conspiracy? Truth is hard but It helps if you look at it objectively.
@Wasim:
Do you also realize that we Indians with 'thick' heads do not want anything to do with Pakistan or pakistanis even remotely. 1947 ensured that india's social fabric was cleansed and all indians- repeat all Indians - are happy it happened. Bangladesh is also happy that they have their own identity today and are on their way to prosperity. But the issue here is why many pakistanis living abroad still want to be identified as Indian rather than 'pakistani'?
indians should get the message through their thick heads that we don't want anything to do with them. No one in Pakistan likes indians,, be it a Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, Pakhtun, or Kashmiri...everyone in Pakistan hates indians and are glad they are not indian.
excellent.
@aziz: Any more pearls of wisdom from you? Eagerly awaiting.
Article is nothing but sheer waste of time and effort. Islam spread in South Asia because of the castist mindest of Hindus, which is clearly depicted by the author of this article. Pakistan Army Zindabad.
@Zehra: You need to check the meaning of word institution first and then go further and learn meaning of democracy too !! Sadly in Pakistan these words are purely cosmetic for the people in charge to ransavk the country !
Author is all over the place, his emotional analysis is all under the place. But he has some valid points, like Development needs to be practiced as a religion.
@faria: Like the author has said, this is a series of articles so the story has just started and you are complaining that you don't know the story yet. But I think you won't like to hear this story. Many Pakistanis won't. Maybe you can dislike the truth but truths can't turn into lies just because you don't like it.
@Vigilant: Castes have everything to do with economy in this part of the world since the whole system of caste was based on skills and trades specific groups of people were good at.
@zehra Well articulated thoughts. There are defeatists in our ranks who side with the enemies to make their point. After reading comments from the Indian contributors on this site, and there are many of them, and reading this article, I m so thankful that we have Pakistan. I m so thankful that partition happened. These people spew their hatred towards muslims and Pakistan on this site. Thanks ET for letting them do it. In order for ET to be more credible, its editorial board must make an effort to read the fact being presented in the article. Seems like ET editors are as clueless as the author.
@Zehra: ” By God, that country India has institutional crisis like we havent seen.” - In 2009, Pakistan sent a delegation to India to, learn from Indian election commission about how to conduct elections. Last year, Pakistani education experts decided to adopt India's education reforms by CBSE as a blueprint for education reforms in Pakistan...these are some examples of our "institutions" We have had a regular democracy, which has consistently given us a working Parliament, a Parliament which is respected and honored by the Judiciary and Military...we do not have Judiciary and Military constantly trying to take out the elected parliament...these are known as institutions...
ps: we have an army, which WIN wars, again INSTITUTIONS:)
In Pakistan.... We are not Punjabi, not Pathans, Not Balochies, Not Sindhis, Not Kashmiris...
We are PAKISTANIS................................................Only.
KHAS HAY TARKEEB MAIN QUOM-E-RASUL-HASHMI (PBUH)
@Zehra: " By God, that country India has institutional crisis like we havent seen." - At least be sportive to accept the deficiencies of your self.. Sentences like the above one will only make people laugh at your nationalism.. Its blind.. By the way you need to have a functional institution for it to be in crisis in the first place. One that is being ransacked every now and then on the false pretext of nationalism is just not an institution.. Now, who do you think has an institution to at least have a crisis??
I fully agree with Shahzeb. Pakistan has progressed whenever military has come in power. We Indians would like to see a prosperous and stable Pakistan, and the earlier the military comes back in power in Pakistan, the better it is for us.
" Today, few Muslims remain in Indian Punjab" Malerkotla in Indian Punjab is Muslim majority i should know as my wife belongs to Malerkotla there are a number of videos about the place on youtube it is a unique place in that it has no history of communal violence .
And this is a badly researched article i must say. Pak Army's main constituents hail not from all over Punjab, but 2-3 districts namely, Rawalpindi, Jehlum and Gujrat. Thats it. There are families who for generations have served the armed forces. Nor are Punjabi muslims incapable of good business sense. Pak's richest man, Mian Mansha alongwith Sehgals, Tiwanas and several others are all Punjabi muslims-not Memons from Karachi, despite their success in industry.And wht does it mean when he says Sindh is more 'normal' than Punjab??? The guy's clueless!
I will beg the author to do a study on Muslim Sheikhs, who are a trading castes in Punjab. If the author were to visit every single town, and city of punjab, he will find out what I mean. I think it is self-delusional to write about something, of which you hardly know anything about (Punjab). I don't know exactly where the author is coming up with 50% of the revenue, but he should know most of the it is because of the port, and good going through it. Also there is a considerable Punjabi trading community in karachi itself.
The author kept using the word normal, which he doesn't really explain what he means by it. I would not have cared so much to comment on this, except as a Punjabi, it is based on false information and self-delusionalism.
@Munir Ahmad Saeed: Strange to note "We Muslim Punjabis do not have the business instinct....." despite heavy odds, why bussiness is flourshing in Sialkot, Faisalabad, gujranwala?
Child sacrificed, liver offered to gods in India. This happened in Raipur, Chhattisgarh and is called high culture. Is there anything Pakistan can do to help you?
as far as punjabi army is concerned this needs to be investigated. The number of army personnel are from Rawalpindi division which administratively falls in Province Punjab.Rawalpindi division is arid and we find no river and canal system in the division So the majority of people opt to join army as source of employment as there is no industry and trade opportunities. Likewise the people belonging from south of KPK, Swabi,Peshawar are in army. Sindh and Balochistan province have tribal setup so they do not want to leave their area. so this is not purely punjabi army.it is pakistan's army which has representation from all provinces. You yourself has written about business classes who are wealthy and good at business techniques. in my view, the major reason for joining army is financial, if the youth is offered alternative they might think the other way. The people living in urban and prosperous centres like karachi, lahore,faisalabad, gujranwala have better opportunities so they do not wish to join army.The same situation is of indian urban centres
What on earth the title of this article has to do with this article????????
Pinky: There is a huge connection. Merchants are more exposed to the economic reality and will be more prudent and reconciling. Peasants and feudals are known to fight over a tree for generations! So, they are more likely to support a larger Military spend than mercantile population, which wants facilities of trade (roads, electricity etc.).
First of all the campaign against Pervaiz Musharaf was initiated by the Panjab.So if anyone believes that the army is popular in Panjab, gets its facts right. Moreover now people need change (they are against the current system) that's PTI (with a slogan for change and against corruption) was successful both in Panjab (Lahore Jalsa) and in Sindh (Karachi jalsa). Pakistan is united against this corrupt system.
@Observer
You are right. Aakar Patel is not a Hindu.He is an Indian Muslim.
@ddddd
I fail to understand what his religious affinity has got to do with his writing. Should we judge a piece of writing by the name of the author or by the contents of it.
Will wait for the next week. But I believe in number and facts. And facts which I have mentioned in my earlier posts, points out that Pakistan has made progress in the era of dictatorship. That's why Army is popular in Pakistan.
Since this article is a continuation of the author's last article (24th December), and will be followed by another article as promised by the author, the editor should assign serial numbers at the end of the title.
Why is the army so popular in Pakistan - I Why is the army so popular in Pakistan - II
etc.
@Adeel
India is a much much bigger country than Pakistan, hence it needs a bigger army, Indian army is just twice the size of Pakistani army despite the fact that India is many times bigger.
@Sana Islam is not a nation, its an organized religion, muslims means people practicing Islam, muslims live from Bosnia to Malaysia and from Senegal to Kazhakastan, do not tell me that you feel one nation with them.
@Mir Agha Since the ancient days, "India" is a western name of the region today known as "Indian subcontinent", you are saying that Sindh was not a part of it, but was only a part of "British India" haha, you and your 64 year old fake nationalism...in fact the name "India" has come from the western name of the river "Sindhu" i.e "Indus", which flows in Sindh...hehe
The feudalistic and corrupt system of democracy in Pakistan will never succeed and the people have no trust in such a system, therefore they trust and honor their military under whose watch they have seen their country prosper without a doubt.
The title should actually be "Should the army be so popular in Pakistan?"
Mr Patel kindly first explain why is the army so popular in India as you have more mercantile population. Their is balance in your society. why you need such a big army.
@sana - if Muslims are a nation then why so many Muslim countries!!!!!
Superb article but pakistan schools teach history only from the Mugal era & glorifies the invaders
Well, Pakistan's hatred of all things Hindu including any mentions of caste aside, it is a known fact that certain Indian castes have a natural ability for business, just like certain castes have a natural militaristic outlook. That talent has been honed over thousands of years and natural selection does play a part. In India even after independence and equal opportunity certain caste communities have proved to be more entrepreneurial than others and this might be true for Pakistan too. Likewise certain other castes have shown more affinity for military jobs. There is no promotion of Hindu caste here, just facts. The writer is just trying to analyze why Pakistani Punjab is more militarized than Sindh.
Well, our holy prophet is perfect example for every Muslim, there were no fuel in candle in his home, but he(saw) left almost 11 swords.
@Major Usman:
You being an army man I presume truth is often times alien to you. Understandable since OBL lived right under your collective noses and it was a hard call when he was in fact discovered. That was the first truth andthe second truth was that he was sheltered and fed by the military and your intelligence wing undoubtedly with the full knowledge of the kayani's and pasha's. Denying that he was within sneezing distance was the only option that was left to them. And that was and is a blatant lie.
It is Mushraf (a dictator) who gave birth to the media. Truth is always bitter.
Pakistan has always progress in the rule of dictatorship. Whether it is in the form of Pervaiz Musharaf ( major contribution "free media": before his rule there is only one single channel PTV now there are many; "local government system"; "growing economy": Pakistan was the 3rd fastest growing ecenomy at that time) or Yahya Khan ( Yahya Khan era was called golden era for Pakistan). Pakistan has suffered when there is democratic leadership e.g. 1972 Bhotto has passed the rule to nationalize all the pvt. ltd. firms and banks which resulted in increasing distrust among businessmen for several years. Now the current government is so much corrupt that one of its minister in a talk show says that "Corruption should be the basic right of every citizen". This is beyond imagination. Our democratic system is not a good one (feudalistic and corrupt system) and we can not afford this kind of democracy.
Akbar sahib your title is so very wrong. The army is very very unpopular in Pakistan. It was very unpopular in Bengal/East Pakistan, it is still very unpopular in Pakhtoon Khwa, Sindh, and Baluchistan. Lately Punjab has also realized its short sighted and narrow minded folly of its active and passive support for army and presently here also Army is quite unpopular.
The real reason why the army remains popular in Pakistan is because its role is not discussed objectively. When Saleem Shahzad tried to pursue facts and shine light on the truth he was brutally silenced. It is now clear who was behind the crime. And keep in mind that the english language press reaches only a very tiny fraction of the population. Which journalist will forsake his/her life to question its army? If the Pakistanis have the same freedom to discuss politicians and khakis then we will get the truth. I wonder if this letter will be posted as is.
because there is no democracy in pakistan..
Patel sahib, good effort to foment dissensions in Pakistani society. According to you, Baloch, Pashtun are nation but Muslims are not a nation...May you please define what constitutes a nation?
Poor Article.....Castes have nothing to do with economy & trends of liking & disliking.....Explaining castes are good for mentioning history but not future.....One thing you forget to mention that almost all industries during British era was located in India & Karachi from where 50% revenue comes from was just a small costal town of fishermen. I belong to cast & we were considered most suitable for Army by Gooras but only my two family members were in Army are others are related to professions like scientists, businessmen, traders, Engineers, doctors etc.
@Shahzeb: I am also glad that partition happened and extrimist muslim go to pakistan I’m indian.but without whole kashmir i am not fully happy .kashmir is head of india .we take back our kashmir ..
@author - interesting thought provoking article but I would agree with some of the comments above that you are in a danger of over simplifying this. Probably as you say caste is one way of analyzing this but there are other forces at play. One of it is the elitism of the upper strata of the Muslim society itself. I dare suggest that the movement for Pakistan was dominated by educated upper class feudal Muslims. This class viewed itself as the inheritor of Mughal, Persian culture and hence the natural rulers of the sub-continent. They couldn't see themselves being dominated by numerically stronger Hindu community. This class also viewed itself and by extension all muslims to be martial. This probably continues in today's Pakistan where the upper strata of the society has no qualms of supporting a large army and has no problems when it's army indulges in aggression, militancy and violence against the neighbors and now even against the US. If you listen to the rants of Zaid Hamid (who seem to have a lot of followers in Pakistan) this lends support to the above. His views might be an extreme form of what i have said above but never the less seems to make sense when looked at it in the context of the above analysis. So i guess this also need to looked from the class angle as well. Having said all of this I claim no expertise in this matter and the above that i have written could just all be rubbish.
@ajm - author being an Indian or a non Pakistani probably makes his analysis more objective.
Due to lack of education and sheer propaganda, army enjoys a better image. People just don’t know that we lost all the wars against India
@Major Usman: sir , you know india sc/st litterasy rate is higher than pakistan and indian muslim according to sachher commite report . one more thing pakistan 80% muslim were dalit hindus first give them reservation like india gave them thats y india half state cm is sc/st.in last 64 years pakistani jamidar and mulla rule pakistan not any dalit muslim become president of pakistan.
I am still looking for the answer to the question "Why is the army so popular in Pakistan"?
Dear Mr. Aakar , It will be much better if you leave them to live in their paradise. If they are happy with claiming that they have won the wars of 48,65,71,99 let it be like that. If they say islam is a religion which allows peaceful co existence of different sects , let it be. If they say they will be the super power , let it be. If they say that they are perfect , let it be. We already have so many topics to be discussed from India , let us concentrate on them and go ahead.
I am so glad that partition happened and I'm not indian.
Thank you Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for partition.
Fact: Pakistan becomes a financially stable country under military rule and we see more development in Pakistan under military rule.
Fact: Pakistan becomes a nearly bankrupt country under "democracy".
So this answers why army is loved by Pakistani people because army are the only ones who care about Pakistan.
Ahhh...Karachi has a heavy Punjabi population! This rambling is up there with your lesson on how Muslims worship the moon.
P.S. This "area" was part of a British Colony. Indians are still obsessed with their notion of "india" taught in their schools.
why is the army popular in Pakistan again?
This is an overly simplistic assessment - it's not necessarily off target, but makes a few too many general statements. I like your effort though.
There must be truth in this article considering all the comments below it.
It is ironic that the author brings up the Indian anthem which lays claim to territory in Pakistan and then continues to wonder why we need an army?
Patel Sahib, 700,000 Indian soldiers are subjugating an area we consider our province. Indians have control over our territory in Siachen as we speak. You ask us why we need an army?
ET and its NY Times agenda ..............
@Babloo: Do you even have any clue what you are saying?
Well this aaker patel guy needs to focus more on his own country's army which is eating up resources at fast pace.
Pakistan have spies even within indian army's rank. What do you got to say about that?
@faria, you said "Does this article have anything to do with PAKISTAN army?"
In Pakistan, everything has to do with Pakistan army. The great Pakistani poet said "mojain, mojan, charo taraf faujain fauja" ( fun all around with army all around ). The state and its people seem to have the sole purpose of serving the army. Whatever has happened to Pakistan today and reduced it to what its today can primarily be attributed to the army. Period.
@dddddd:
"Also a lot of people are going to complain about your stereotypical Hindu obsession with castes. "
I am not 100% sure, but I don't think Aakar Patel is a Hindu.
Thanks mr Akar for a good piece. I believe the topic will need a series of articles, please keep writing if you can. Without being unnecessarily emotional your most of arguments are sensible and true. One Pakistani academic has also given the reason of army culture in Pakistan is that in the WWII Indian contrbuted more than a million soldiers and out of that number 800,000 were punjabis and out of that 64 percent were punjabi muslims. The British completely militarized Punjab because they needed foot soldiers and food supplies for war. You are absolutely right all other provinces such as Balochistan and Sindh, and various others in India such as Tamils are nations but Pakistani Punjab, sans our Punjabi brothers now in Indian Punjab and Haryana are not a nation. Similarly Bangalis in the west Bangal and Bangladesh are one nation. Therefore, they have made themselves Bangladeshis rather than Bangalis to create a separate nation. Being farmers and soldiers predominantly,Muslim punjabis lack a an acumen of mercantile class. We Muslim Punjabis do not have the business instinct of Gujratis and Aroras. Overall Muslims particularly in present Pakistan are less of a mercantile beings. And with partition we have lost whatever little we had. We are still more tribal in approach that affects our ability to be sharp businessmen but that tribalistic nature fits best into army culture that makes them ready made soldiers but that does not mean we are very brave and better soldiers compared to various nationalities in Pakistan and India. Yes Sindh is more business savvy but only in Karachi where the migrant class including the Gujratis excell, however feudal Sindh is as pathetic as Punjab. Akar please do not be displeased with some of the baseless emotional comments people have expressed in this place. It is the result of our biased education system which makes everything from India evil. Waiting for your next article. Munir Ahmad Saeed
@MohammadAli Ghanghro
Have you heard of a country named Switzerland? The have no army and they are surviving, well better than Pakistan.
@Ajm
Islam is not a nation, its an organized religion, muslims means people practicing Islam, muslims live from Bosnia to Malaysia and from Senegal to Kazhakastan, do not tell me that you fell one nation with them.
According to you, Pakistani people, like muslim Jatts, muslim Gujjars, muslim Dalits, muslim Chamars etc. are more related to a guy in Somalia(muslim) than their Hindu counterparts in India?
Why do Pakistanis pretend as if they have no castes, caste is not a religious thing but is a South Asian cultural thing, for example you need to listen the songs of Punjab(Pakistan), they are all full of Jatt bragging.
Awaiting:)!
the writer is right about baloch hindus and in fact the only hindus remaining in Pakistan are etnically baloch but is wrong on pashtun hindus.i have heard their used to be hindus in waziristan we know that their are still sikhs in tribal areas.
agree with cautious.
it is just about as popular as any occupying army can be. there, you have itt aakar!
Patel bhai, one needs to first understand the psychology of the people of pakistan, to really understand. why they would allow their Army so many resources in absence of people's basic needs? Let alone development, as that would be a dream in their current state! Perhaps that may also answer further questions to their attitudes, denials, blame games etc, rather than able to face facts !!!
Get your facts right buddy.....why dont you do an article on what really concerns you...maybe the lower castes in India and how their rights are violated...!!!
wel...it seems like a good article... Punjabes in Pakistan are actually either Hindu or Sikhs by nation they converted in to Islam and now called Muslims but they have a kind of their own Islam,,,and if u write anything here in pakistan that is a reality than you are anti-pakistan or Anti-Islam...and if u say somthing about Punjabe Army than God Bless you (u r dead)...
Sindh is more normal than punjab??? I am compelled to ask the definition of Normal according to the author. Express Tribune should review its policies, difference of opinion is always welcome, also foreign authors but at least those who make least bit of sense. Author seems to be oblivious to the facts on ground in Pakistan, Punjabis are not the predominant force in Army any more, yes Army remains most popular in Punjab, the heirarchy of top army brass is also changing, get your facts straight. Punjab is also home to Siraikis and Hazaara's, 80 million are not all Punjabis.
It is clear the author does not understand the complex mechanisms in place, how patriotism for the country is replaced by Love for Army at an early age, how it is thought to young minds that The Real Heros are the ones wearing Khakis, the concept of Superhuman Pakistani Soldiers who can do no evil etc etc. Your analysis is based on fallacy of assumptions, which can not look beyond stereotyping of caste system, pretty similar to the ones done by British or may be this is how an Indian mind thinks. Whatever.
er so,, why is the army so popular in pakistan??
um are you saying its coz our punjab doesnt have a "mercantile population"?? call me thick (you wont be the first one ;p) but i cant see the connection at all!!!
Interesting article - needs a new title as it's misleading.
The army in Pakistan has usurped all resources and rendered the country a hub of terrorism and penniless. However, Pakistanis, gladly approve of it. What does that tell you ?
Pakistan army needed the one billion for fata anti Taliban operations due to American war on terror Muslims are a nation I don't expect a mon Muslim to understand
Is Iran a nation ? Even with its baloch and Arab and Armenian populations ? Is Russia a nation with its Asian population ?
Is the uk a nation with2 million brown Indiana ? And there are many Sikhs in Punjab Pakistan The author is trying to find links that don't exist
Really poor article , nice try but Jinnah lives on Pak army is not half size of India we just have larger number of reserves
Well I am sure glad you mentioned this. And here I was wondering what the army has to do with this history lesson of yours.
Calling Karachi stable compared to Punjab's cities?! I live in Karachi and it is anything but stable. Also a lot of people are going to complain about your stereotypical Hindu obsession with castes.
Are Sindhis a nation? Sindhis have yet to make a mark as a formidable force. The establishment does not allow it to be part of the army. No nation manages to survive without an army.
Lol only in Pakistan do we ask Indian to write in Pakistani papers about pak army It's like asking a north Korean to write about the us army . Indian army is more complicated and has hidden programmes like border reserve force Last month India announced it was expanding its army by 100,000
Can't wait for next week !!! =D
Aakar Ji it's a treat to read your thought-provoking piece every time! I salute my soldiers but abhor the Generals - well, MOST of 'em at any rate. More power and a Happy and peaceful new year to you and yours, sir !!! Hats off !!!
@Patel sahab, I have few muslim patel friends in karachi what caste they belong to i dont know niether do i care but i beg to say sir in 1911 punjab expanded to peshawer and thats a reason there is nothing to say in national anthem and there are Hindus though not many but still some lives in pukhtun areas even in hazara where i am belong to we still have hindu faith peoples in area called Derband and i guess we need strong army after we seen the holocoust of 1947 and punjabis were most affected peoples at that time. and i dont care if we dont have bread but no body dare to look at us and invade us and we gotta learn lesson from afghanistan and iraq and we know how civilized world is...