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The division of Pakistan in 1971, the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the deteriorating standoff with the Indian backed regime in Kabul, the abandonment of Kashmir, the so-called war on terror, the pressures of an entrenched military regime, and the callous slaughter of citizens in Waziristan have all contributed to the depression Pakistan faces today. Alongside this, there is endemic corruption, the failure to distribute wealth to the poorest in society, the soaring sectarian tensions and the increasing lawlessness. However, in my opinion, the root cause of all the problems and instability is the ethnic divide. In my research paper, I will be going through the history, causes and effects of ethnic conflict in Pakistan and how it along with other factors has led to the instability of this state. Also, I will be discussing the various steps that can be taken to reduce and eradicate the ethnic nationalism.

Some people say it's a copout to blame history for Pakistan's woes. But on the other hand it's worth mentioning the extremely problematic situation that the new nation faced from the moment of its inception-the problem of ethnicity. According to Donald Horowitz's definition, ethnicity is a narrow self identification and a basis for affiliation, loyalty, and action, but is elastic enough to embrace groups differentiated by race, color, religion, language, regional origin, tribe, or nationality. It is the individual's need of authority, emotional security and a sense of unique identity. An ethnic conflict is a war between different groups as a result of ethno-nationalism. Ethnic conflict is an elemental force in international politics and a major threat to regional security and stability. It can take various forms from communal violence to repression of ethnic enclaves, from Irredentism and Retrieval to even Separatist movements.

To understand this concept of racial strife better in regards to Pakistan, one needs to relate to the historical background and go back to the time of independence. The creation of Pakistan was fuelled by the horrifying idea of the Muslims treatment as second class citizen at the hands of Hindus in the would- be independent India. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League played a fundamental role in invoking Muslims all over the subcontinent for a separate homeland thus gathering people from all walks of life under the banner of Islam. The idea of 'Islamic State' overstepped all other secular concerns and on

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