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2005-04-20 Afghanistan/South Asia

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Posted by Paul Moloney 2005-04-20 12:03:44 AM|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Pakistan is really an empire of almost 200m people incorporating various nationalities (that speak distinct languages) in South Asia who happen to be Muslim. I can see why some of those people might not be too thrilled about being part of the empire. (India's kind of the same way, except they're all Hindus).

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-04-20 9:38:48 AM|| [http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-04-20 9:38:48 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 People are more interested in being part of a well-administered empire, if they have a choice.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-04-20 10:09:59 AM|| 2005-04-20 10:09:59 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 IIUC in 1970 the Baluchi rising was supported by USSR, and soviet leaning Afghanistan, and i think India - opposed by Pakistan with support from the US and China (and Iran?) Soviet drive to a warm water port, and all that. great game sort of thing.

So whos on the side of the Baluchi rebellion now? India, I suppose. Sounds like China isnt keen on it, nor the Islamists, nor the US (and presumably not Karzai either). Iran? Russia?

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-04-20 10:17:02 AM|| 2005-04-20 10:17:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 LH: So whos on the side of the Baluchi rebellion now? India, I suppose. Sounds like China isnt keen on it, nor the Islamists, nor the US (and presumably not Karzai either). Iran? Russia?

Pakistan is China's ally in its rivalry with India. Anything that weakens Pakistan would be against Chinese interests.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-04-20 11:16:46 AM|| [http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-04-20 11:16:46 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 TW: People are more interested in being part of a well-administered empire, if they have a choice.

I don't think Pakistan (or India or China) is anyone's idea of a well-administered empire.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-04-20 11:18:17 AM|| [http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-04-20 11:18:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 So whos on the side of the Baluchi rebellion now?

It isn't clear at this stage just who is supporting them, if anyone, although all sort of countries have been blamed for it.

Posted by Paul Moloney 2005-04-20 6:50:06 PM|| 2005-04-20 6:50:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 ZF: precisely. ;-)

Posted by trailing wife 2005-04-20 10:03:00 PM|| 2005-04-20 10:03:00 PM|| Front Page Top

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