Most books, articles and journals about Pakistani demographics in the West are one way or another addressing this issue as a 'hidden rivalry' between the two communities
They often make it sound sinister. The fact is in every country with a multi-ethnic make up [that covers most of the countries] will have rivalries between differant groups and tussles over resources. This applies to Turkey, to Spain, to UK where Scots often complain about the English. This is entirely human phenomenon and to be expected. However as I said before the most important institution in Pakistan - the army is primarily a Punjabi and Pakhtun force. Yes, there are extreme groups on the fringes but they don't carry much national currency.
Punjabis are often referred to and introduced as the "base", "backbone" or "foundation" of Pakistan's statehood as though the nation revolves around them. Is this perception wrong?
They are most dominant in population so that feeds into everything. Also Punjab has huge agriculture dating from British times when irigation farming took off on huge scale. Thus Punjab is today Pakistan's breadbasket. So there is some substance to that.
There is another factor to bear in mind. Modernity arrived in this part of the world with the British. Prior to that this region had effectively been left behind by world events. This factor is a important one when comparing Turkey as a society to places like Pakistan. Turkey being on the door step of Europe was touched by the winds of Renaissance and thus had plenty of time to evolve. Our part of the world was cut off from progress and remained stagnant thus was hundreds of years behind by the time the British arrived.
When the British arrived they were vector for change and introduction to modernity. This is when schools, universities teaching modern subjects were established. This process of modernity being introduced was not equal across their empire. The regions they took over first recieved most of this process of change. The British arrived in what is now India/Bangladesh in 1700s whereas the arrived in what is now Pakistan in 1849. So your talking of extra century of British rule. That allowed lot of time for permeation of modern thought.
Within what is now Pakistan Punjab recieved the most influence by the British as it was firest to fall under trheir rule. The Pakhtun areas on the western side came later under British rule and even then the border zones remained contested with regular wars with the British Empire. This is another reason why Punjab has advantage.
However times are changing. If you look at PTI government education forms top priority and Khyber Pakhtunkwa Province has made incredible progress in education and it is nice to see that this also extends to female education. This all will have major impact with a generation on Pakistan as hidden energy of this part of Pakistan really impacts the national tapestry.
What's more, they're described as more secular than Pakhtuns, hence, people have assumptions like Indo.
Yes. This is true. Pakhtuns tend to be more conservative and religious. This partly has to do with what I said above but there are other reasons. There is reason to think that religion was given extra importance by the state in this part of Pakistan as a way to neutralize the strong ethno-centrism sentiments revolving around the idea of Pashtunistan. These sentiment often revolved around ethnic supremacism and religion was a tool to muffle such movements. Much diminshed today but they still do persist within fringe parties unfortunately, which are secular and often left leaning. `
But change is coming. We are what we are through our experiances, education and ideas that we have been exposed to. The borderlands or what were until recently called 'tribal regions' had the least developed areas of Pakistan and Pakhtun traditional codes held sway with some of the lowest female literacy rates in the country. But education and exposure can bring enormous change. One great example of this is the present Minister of Climate Change Mrs Zartaj Gul in PM Imran Khan's government. She was born in tribal areas and today is a federal minister. She is a pointer to the future which is where I like looking at then dwelling on the present. Change is law of nature and we should accept and celebrate it. Personally I am very excited about the future of Pakistan. It's the people with enormous abilities, untapped at the moment that gives me hope.
A young female Pakhtun, from tribal areas, today a federal minister. This is sort of change that will bring progress to Pakistan.
