Burqaposhx Pakhtunistan was popular amongst those “socialists” and communist sympathisers but now in the 21st century its being directed or indirectly aided by America and its allies in Afghanistan. Im not sure what the powers that be want from Pakistan exactly but a Muslim state with limited or little or even no clout would probably be the best bet. Political Islam and Unity amongst Muslims is seen as a threat and the seeds of nationalism and ethnic/regional exploitation have been planted in us creating rifts and potential regional conflicts.
Ethnic, linguistic, sectarian and religious conflict dog South Asia west to the Middle East. Pakistan itself is not severely troubled by it but the ill feeling can easily be exploited. Pashtuns have come a long way since the 1970s. They are integrated economically and politically in Pakistan. They have some influence in the power structure unlike their brethren in Afghanistan who hold less clout even though over 50% of the country.
There are 2 reasons why Pakhtun nationalism occurs:-
1. NWFP not given its fair due
2. Pakhtuns considering themselves a distinct ethnic group
The 2 major Pakhtun nationalist parties ANP and PKMAP both play national roles in issues of national interest.
Nyfella of course the whole Pakhtunistan issue is a distraction. Politicians in Pakistan are from rich families and they don’t have issues of jobs, wages, survival, food, clean water, health so they focus on issues which would be considered a luxury.
Shadan your right - you cant stop the will of a people if it changes and governments and empires have changed so much over the hundreds of years.
Ammarman 7 – I don’t agree its in the interests of Afghanistan to join Pakistan as they are politically very different to Pakistanis.
LOTD your right – Pakistan is seen as a threat to American hegemony. I disagree with you when you say many educated Pashtuns want their own state and the sentiment is rising. Over the last few decades pashtuns wanting their own state have almost disappeared and in fact more and more Pashtuns have settled in other parts of Pakistan for jobs.
A Greater Pashtunistan would mean no Hazara and no Terbela Dam. There is a belief amongst pashtun nationalists that they will become independent and get the royalty of the dam. You forget the dam is in between both the Pashtun and Hindko belts and Hazara wont be joining a Greater Pashtunistan.
The section west of the Indus will have very high population growth which wont be levelled off by moving into Punjab and Sindh, and on top of that there could be up to 10 million extra Pashtuns returning back to it. The Peshawar valley side is economically tied with Northern Punjab. The Quetta side is more linked with Sindh.and Southern Punjab. Pashtun traders would lose a lot if Sindh, Balochistan and pashtunistan become 3 separate countries. Buses, bus conductors, road side cafes, road side shops are just some of the jobs that pashtuns do en route to Lahore and Karachi.
Balochistan will benefit in the sense that its people or should I say its Sardars will have more control over its own resources and as its so heavily exploited with little given in return, it will see a lot more in return.
One more thing Indian has never been an identity but it’s a landmass that our very own river the Indus takes its name from. Pashtu is an Indo-European language is it not? British India and the Mughul empires had some section of present day NWFP under its rule. The Pashtuns of the Peshawar Valley have played a role in India. Afghans/Pashtuns have always pushed eastwards to the Indo-Gangetic plains.