Ethnicity and Ethnic Conflict in Pakistan

Abstract

There is hardly any state in the world, which is not ethnically plural. Pakistan is also no exception in this regard. Pakistan is a country with unique ethnic diversity. This present study focuses on the concept of ethnicity and different variables such as religion, language, territory and caste, which have potential to give birth violent conflicts among different ethnic identities of Pakistan. Process of national integration can be secured only when ethnic identities would be given adequate representation according to the constitution to decide their future themselves and opportunities to flourish their specific cultural identity. Ethnic identities come into conflict when they face imbalance in the society. Economic resources should be judiciously distributed among different ethnic identities. Political system should have capability to articulate social capital on the proper place according to their intellectual level. System should have capability to generate resources and to utilize these resources in the best interest of various segment of society. Political system should initiate various economic, social and political measures to curb ethnic conflict.