Re: MMA proposes three Islamic names for NWFP
It shows that their primary identity is most definately not their own ethnicity. Pashtun nationalism is dying and dying fast.
The opposite is happening rather. Nationalism is a phenomenon brought about by modernization of which the newly emerged middle-classes and the petty bourgeos are usually the protagonists. This is exactly what is happening on Pashtun Land. Educated Pashtuns from middle and lower-middle classes are especially exposed to nationalistic sentiments and Pashtun Nationalism is on rise in them. Interestingly, people associated with Islami groups e.g. Jammiat-i-Talaba are becoming fervent nationalists.
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You still haven't addressed the fact that the Pakistani Pashtuns freely and fairly elected to represent Pakistan's Pashtun majority province do not want an ethno-centric name for their own province.
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The present naming initiative is a cheap tactic of Punjab-dominated establishment. It is very scared of Pashtun nationalism. Reasons are obvious; Pashtuns have the demographic strength, the history, the resources, and the center of gravity to launch a movement for greater autonomy. That is why there is instability in Afghanistan and there is this support for MMA (Mullah-Military Alliance) and other terrorists/fundo organizations. That is also why the federal govt is not willing to integrate FATA with NWFP or to enforce administrative and political reforms there.
MMAs are only sandbags behind which there are other forces calling shots. Islamic nationalism is the only instrument in the hands of these forces to block Pashtun nationalism and other nationalist movements.
But there is a limit to using religion as an instrument of politics. Long over is the age of theocracy. Theocratic movements are also on the throes of death. Soon would die the remainscent also though may be voilently to give way to stable and rational identities/entities built around natural basis like language, culture, territory, history, etc.
History has always favored natural and evolved entities compared to artificial creations without proper natural basis.