Part 7
By Iqbal Hamza
The seventh factor pushing Pakistan toward eventual collapse is the deep and long-standing ethnic divide within its society. Pakistan is home to four major ethnic communities: Punjabis, Baloch, Sindhis, and Pashtuns. Each of these groups is largely rooted in its own geographical region and province, with a distinct cultural identity shaped by history, language, and social traditions. Over time, these differences have not only remained but have hardened into visible lines of separation, creating suspicion, distance, and a growing sense of alienation among the communities.
The reckless and dangerous policies of the oppressive Pakistani military regime bear much responsibility for this fragmentation. For decades, it has deliberately stoked internal divisions, particularly in Pashtun-inhabited areas. By pitting Pashtun tribes against one another and fueling internal conflicts, the regime has sought to weaken their collective strength and prevent any unified political or social force from emerging.
In the Pashtun regions of Balochistan, these divisions have deep historical roots. Since the early years of Pakistan’s creation, tensions have existed between tribes such as the Achakzai and Noorzai. Within the Achakzai tribe itself, long-standing rivalries between the Hamidzai and Ghabizai branches have persisted for decades. Conflicts between the Kakar and Achakzai tribes are also well known. Beyond these internal disputes, the military regime has consistently tried to sow discord between Pashtuns and Baloch, further widening the gap between the two communities.
The wider aim of this strategy has been to keep these groups politically weak and socially divided, while ensuring that real power remains concentrated in Punjabi hands. At the same time, these divisions have made it easier for the military and the ruling elite to extract and exploit the natural wealth of regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Their mineral resources have been taken under the banner of national development, while the local population has seen little benefit. For many years, this approach served the interests of the ruling establishment, but it has now hardened into a crisis that refuses to fade.
In recent years, there has been a clear shift in how the Baloch people now see their situation. A widespread belief has taken hold that their resources are being plundered without fair compensation, that their rights are being ignored, and that their wealth is being used for Punjab’s benefit. Similar resentment is also felt among the Pashtuns, who increasingly argue that the military regime is concerned only with protecting Punjabi interests, rather than addressing the needs of the wider population. The Sindhi people, too, voice long-standing grievances, especially over their limited representation and influence within the military and the central government.
These growing resentments have seriously damaged the regime’s legitimacy. Large sections of the population no longer see the military regime as a national institution representing all Pakistanis. Instead, it is increasingly viewed as a power structure dominated by one ethnic group, while the others remain politically marginalized and economically neglected. Among the Baloch, Pashtuns, and Sindhis, there is a strengthening conviction that real authority in the country lies almost entirely in Punjabi hands.
Frustration has now reached a level where parts of the Baloch and Pashtun populations openly speak of independence and self-rule. Political and social movements have formed around these demands, becoming a serious challenge to the Pakistani military regime. In Balochistan, this discontent has escalated into an armed resistance, as many seek to free themselves from Punjabi domination and authoritarian rule.
Already weighed down by economic instability, security threats, and political turmoil, the Pakistani military regime now faces these ethnic tensions as yet another heavy burden. The divisions have grown so deep and entrenched that the regime appears increasingly unable to manage or contain them. Taken as a whole, these developments are now seen as among the key forces driving Pakistan toward deeper instability and an uncertain future.
