Pakistan broke precisely for reasons that broke India; the emerging Bengali bourgeoisie in Pakistan needed a separate state to further their socio economic goals. When we broke off, no one in Pakistan shed any tears for Pakistan's dismemberment. In fact, given the political polarisation of the time, the military-political leadership of Pakistan had concluded that East Pakistan was a liability and the genocide of Pakistan military was intentional; if it had succeeded we would have been second class citizens in Pakistan in perpetuity; and if it failed, Pakistan would get rid of a wing that they were not willing to pay any price for retaining. We got the latter. So those who fantasise about a greater Pakistan are but fools, for Bangladesh's importance in Pakistan's politics was so negligible as to be almost non-existent.

So AZ's hypothesis that we are facing a two-pronged attack is misplaced with the greater Pakistan aspect for it cannot exist except as a fantasy in some deranged mind. The Indian aspect is real, for geopolitics has forever tied us with India for good or for worse.

The FM's famous speech has brought out animosities into the open. How about their resolution? If anybody believes that India would listen to us because of this courage the FM has shown, must be living in the same fool's paradise. With India, we have a problem and a big one but not a crisis. Let us not create one. Pakistan has greater problems with India; Sri Lanka had with the Tamil crisis and Nepal always felt the Indian domination. All three have better relations with India than we have, and none received the help we have from India as we did during our war of liberation. It is good to be emotional but stupid to lose track of reality.