Not all nations follow the same political and development course. Although that would make subjective evaluations easier, it is not the case and federalism is an example of this. After Marshal Tito retied, Yugoslavia announced a decentralization plan; Belgium and Czechoslovakia are heading towards federation. The federalist government of Pakistan began as an expedient solution to the political discord extant at the close of British imperial control of India. The Hindus and the Muslims united to cast off the British, but then the Muslims demanded to have their own nation. This resulted in two territories geographically separated by a thousand miles and united by one religion and one central government.
More than geography separated these regions they were different in their demographics; population, language along with living standards and modernization levels were sharply different between the West and East Pakistan. East Pakistan, later known as Bangla Desh was more populous and generated the majority of the foreign currency earning, yet had a lower standard of living and received less national expenditures and foreign aid than West Pakistan. The West Pakistanis were dominant politically and militarily, and Ayub Khan’s military regime further solidified that in the late 1960s.
There are also ethnic differences between East and West Pakistan. The West Pakistanis were Punjabis and the West were Bengalis; both Punjabi and the Urdu language spoken by the Bengalis were designated as national languages. Subsequent to electoral reapportionment that restored rightful voting strength to the Bengalis their separatist movement gained strength. The electoral victory enjoyed by pro Bengali Awami League in 1970 resulted in debate over a program for a new constitution. These revisions were to include the following six points:
- A true Federation of Pakistan based on the Lahore Resolution and a Parliamentary Government with the Legislature directly elected.
- Federal powers limited to Defense and Foreign Affairs with residual powers accruing to the individual states.
- Two separate but convertible currencies, or one with constitutional provisions to prevent excessive transfers from East to west.
- Taxation and revenue collection vested in the individual states with no central taxation.
- Two separate accounts for foreign exchange earnings.
- Separate militia’s or paramilitary forces.
Although this was not an ethnic agenda the leader of the Punjabi Peoples’ Party leader, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, only accepted the provisions allowing a true federation and separate militias. None of the parties involved had the skills to effect successful change and in 1971, the situation disintegrated to political and ethnic polarization and military conflict. This resulted in the death of as many as five hundred thousand Bengalis.
Because there were ethnic ties between East Pakistan and East Bengal, many of the East Pakistanis fled into that region. The resulting refugee problem drew India into the conflict to support East Pakistan. By the end of 1971, the Soviet Union also became involved supporting India and East Pakistan and the United States and China were supporting West Pakistan.
With India’s assistance, Bengali regained control of Dacca and declared Bangla Desh an independent nation severing its ties with West Pakistan. The war complicated the ethno political arena and in 1972, the moderate Awami League had to find a resolution with the Mukti Bahini guerillas who provided the military support in the conflict. To further complicate matters, there was a Bihari minority group in the country. They had become estranged from the Bengali majority and needed protection. The conflict between the Bengali state in Pakistan caused increased political conflict in India where the East Bengali state had also been advocating separatism. Indira Gandhi’s government found themselves advocating for Bengali independence in Pakistan, but not in India.
Works Cited
Enloe, Cunthia H. Ethnic Conflict and Political Development". The Academy of Political Science, n.d.
