How to Resolve the Conflict Between the Nations of Pakistan?
Dr. Masood Tariq
Independent Political Theorist
Karachi, Pakistan
drmasoodtariq@gmail.com
Date: May 22, 2025
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Introduction
Pakistan is a multinational state where various nations with distinct ethnic, linguistic, and cultural identities reside. Without establishing lasting harmony and a participatory federal structure among these nations, national unity and state stability cannot be achieved.
However, the historical presence of social, administrative, financial, and economic inequalities within the state system has given rise to mistrust, a sense of deprivation, and conflicts among these nations.
This paper seeks to address the fundamental question: How can inter-national (inter-ethnic/national) conflicts in Pakistan be resolved peacefully, transparently, and on a permanent basis? The paper proposes the following four-point policy framework:
1. Ensure meaningful participation of all nations in Pakistan’s state affairs based on their population proportions.
2. Undertake social, administrative, financial, and economic policy reforms based on the population of all nations in Pakistan.
3. Resolve inter-national (inter-ethnic/national) mistrust, historical exploitation, and constitutional ambiguities through intellectual and academic dialogue.
4. Organize a comprehensive “Grand National Dialogue” under the patronage of Pakistan’s federal government, in which nationalist politicians and intellectuals from all nations are given representation and an effective voice.
The paper emphasizes that superficial administrative measures or media-driven narratives are insufficient for establishing sustainable trust among the nations. What is required is a scientific, historical, and policy-based approach.
If the state sincerely implements this policy framework, Pakistan can not only become a strong federation but also serve as a model of harmonious and stable national unity.
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Table of Contents
1. The Consequences of Shallow Political Engagement
2. The Role of Factors in Shaping Political Trends
3. The True Role of Politics in Nation-Building
4. The Myth of Punjabi Imperialism: Facts or Propaganda?
5. The Need for a “Grand National Dialogue” Among Nations
6. The Structure of the “Grand National Dialogue”
7. The Role of the Federal Government for Grand National Dialogue
8. Conclusion
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1. The Consequences of Shallow Political Engagement
Pakistan is a country of Punjabi, Sammat, Brahui, Gilgati Baltistani, Kohistani, Chitrali, Swati, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Pathan, Baloch, Hindustani Muhajir Nations (Kashmiri, Hindko, Dera Wali are considered as part of Punjabi Nation).
Politicians, analysts, columnists and government officials of Pakistan are used to doing their affairs with limited information and superficial thought without extensive study and observation of the social, administrative, financial and economic issues of Pakistan.
Due to the limited knowledge about the social, administrative, financial, and economic affairs of Pakistan and performing affairs with superficial thought;
(1). Politicians are dispersing the people with their political strategy instead of uniting them. This is the reason why there is “chaos or nepotism” everywhere in Pakistan.
(2). Political analysts are misleading the people through their analyses instead of informing them about the facts. This is the reason why there is “sedition and corruption” everywhere in Pakistan.
(3). Instead of adding positive information to the public by providing correct news, the columnists are adding more negative information. This is the reason why people everywhere in Pakistan are “hands-on” with each other.
(4). Instead of providing facilities to the public by taking effective administrative measures, the government officers are making more trouble. This is the reason why “disorder and mismanagement” is everywhere in Pakistan.
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2. The Role of Factors in Shaping Political Trends
Politics means the social, administrative, financial and economic affairs of the people.
It is politics to explain the reasons for the deterioration of social, administrative, financial and economic affairs, to give a program for improvement and to tell the procedure. Political parties are formed for this purpose.
(1). If the social aspect of the people is more important, then politics starts to be based on religious or sectarian, nationalistic or linguistics.
(2). If the administrative aspect of the people is more important, then politics starts to be based on anti-establishment and pro-establishment.
(3). If the financial aspect of the people is more important, then politics starts to be based on classes like socialism, communism, and capitalism.
(4). If the economic aspect of the people is more important, then politics starts to be based on liberalism or feudalism.
Thus, to pursue national development, it is crucial to understand and resolve problems across all four domains.
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3. The True Role of Politics in Nation-Building
Politics is done for the social stability, administrative improvement, financial prosperity, and economic development of the people.
Therefore, one should be aware of the causes of social, administrative, financial and economic issues and the solutions to these problems.
There should be an organization of people who have knowledge and experience in social, administrative, financial and economic matters. Because;
(1). Until the social affairs of a nation are not well, the administrative affairs of that country can not be well.
(2). Unless the administrative affairs of a country are not well, the financial affairs of that nation will not be well.
(3). Until the financial affairs of a nation are not well, the economic affairs of that country will not be well.
(4). As long as the economic affairs of a country are not well, then the nation and the country do not develop.
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4. The Myth of Punjabi Imperialism: Facts or Propaganda?
The 60% population of Pakistan is Punjabi. (Kashmiri, Hindko, and Dera Wali are counted among the Punjabi Nation). While 40% of the population is of Sammat, Brahui, Gilgati Baltistani, Kohistani, Chitrali, Swati, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Pathan, Baloch, Hindustani Muhajir Nations.
All the 12 nations of Pakistan live in harmony with each other across Pakistan. Therefore, no region in Pakistan can be declared as the Kingdom of any particular nation. However, Pakistan is divided into provinces, divisions, districts, tehsils, and union councils for administrative purposes.
In Pakistan, Punjabis are not only the largest population of Punjab. Rather, the second largest population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the second largest population of Pakhtun region of Balochistan, the second largest population of Baloch region of Balochistan, the second largest population of Sindh, the second largest population of Karachi are also Punjabis.
The 60% population of Pakistan is Punjabi. While 62 out of 98 cities with more than one lakh population in Pakistan have Punjabi majority population. Therefore, Punjabis seem to be overshadowed in agriculture, industry, trade, politics, journalism, and craft sectors, army, navy, air force, and civil services departments, educational institutions, and in big cities as compared to the Sammat, Brahui, Gilgati Baltistani, Kohistani, Chitrali, Swati, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Pathan, Baloch, Hindustani Muhajirs.
But by labelling the Pakistan Army with the title of Punjabi Army and Pakistan’s bureaucracy with the title of Punjabi Bureaucracy, by calling 60% of Pakistan’s population Punjabi as Punjabi imperialists;
(1). It is abused that; Punjabis are fascists.
(2). It is insulted that; Punjabis are chauvinist.
(3). It is desecrated that; Punjabis are dictators.
(4). It is stated that; Punjabis are thieves, robbers, and thugs.
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5. The Need for a “Grand National Dialogue” Among Nations
There is an urgent need for a “Grand National Dialogue” to redress historical grievances and lay the foundation for mutual cooperation.
Delegations comprising nationalist politicians and intellectuals from each nation of Pakistan should articulate their issues from the following perspectives—particularly in the context of how the Punjabi nation has played a role in their deprivation in these areas:
(1). What social deprivation has been done?
Social refers to language, culture and history. In other words, despite having the right to the social respect of his nation, How did the Punjabi nation deprive the language, culture and history of their nation?
(2). What administrative deprivation has been done?
Administrative refers to posts in government, military and civil services. In other words, despite having the administrative rights of his nation, How did the Punjabi nation deprive the government, military and civil services positions of their nation?
(3). What financial deprivation has been done?
Financial refers to livelihood, business and income. In other words, despite having the financial rights of his nation, How did the Punjabi nation financially deprive their nation?
(4). What economic deprivation has been done?
Economic refers to production, construction and resources. In other words, despite the economic rights of his nation, How did the Punjabi nation economically deprive their nation?
On the other hand, delegations comprising Punjabi nationalist politicians and intellectuals should also explain the delegations of nationalist politicians and intellectuals of other nations that; of the Punjabi nation by which nation since the creation of Pakistan;
(1). What social deprivation has been done?
(2). What administrative deprivation has been done?
(3). What financial deprivation has been done?
(4). What economic deprivation has been done?
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6. The Structure of the “Grand National Dialogue”
Nationalist politicians and intellectuals of the Punjabi, Sammat, Brahui, Gilgati Baltistani, Kohistani, Chitrali, Swati, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Pathan, Baloch, Hindustani Muhajir Nations of Pakistan;
(1). Should form a delegation consisting of politicians and intellectuals of their respective nations.
(2). By selecting 10 delegates for social affairs, 10 delegates for administrative affairs, 10 delegates for financial affairs, and 10 delegates for economic affairs.
(3). Direct the delegations to collect material and data to academically present the case of social, administrative, financial, and economic affairs.
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7. The Role of the Federal Government for Grand National Dialogue
The Federal Government of Pakistan should organize the Grand National Dialogue between the nations of Pakistan.
To organize the Grand National Dialogue between the nations of Pakistan, the Federal Government of Pakistan;
(1). Make arrangements for the Grand National Dialogue between the nations of Pakistan at Jinnah Convention Center Islamabad.
(2). Conduct live coverage for the Grand National Dialogue between the nations of Pakistan at the national and international levels.
(3). On request to the government departments by the delegates of the Grand National Dialogue between the nations of Pakistan, material and data related to social, administrative, financial, and economic affairs should be provided to delegates on a priority basis.
(4). The representatives of the government departments related to social, administrative, financial, and economic affairs should be instructed to attend and stay present in the Grand National Dialogue between the nations of Pakistan for timely verification of the materials and data presented by the delegates related to social, administrative, financial, and economic affairs during the Grand National Dialogue.
(5). The heads of departments of the universities of Pakistan related to social, administrative, financial, and economic affairs should be instructed to attend and stay present in the Grand National Dialogue between the nations of Pakistan for timely verification of the materials and data presented by the delegates related to social, administrative, financial, and economic affairs during the Grand National Dialogue.
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8. Conclusion
Only by engaging in an honest, structured, and inclusive national dialogue can Pakistan address historical grievances and foster a truly federal, just, and pluralistic state. Recognizing each nation’s dignity, rights, and contributions is essential for peaceful coexistence and collective development.
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Author Biography
Dr. Masood Tariq is a Karachi-based politician and political theorist. He formerly served as Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim Students Federation (PMSF) Sindh, Councillor of the Municipal Corporation Hyderabad, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh, and Member of the Sindh Cabinet.
His research explores South Asian geopolitics, postcolonial state formation, regional nationalism, and inter-ethnic politics, with a focus on the Punjabi question and Cold War strategic alignments.
He also writes on Pakistan’s socio-political and economic structures, analysing their structural causes and proposing policy-oriented solutions aligned with historical research and contemporary strategy.
His work aims to bridge historical scholarship and strategic analysis to inform policymaking across South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
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