Was Pakistan necessary? The question, as always, arises as we are close to celebrating the 78th anniversary of "independent" Pakistan. The creation of Pakistan in 1947 remains one of South Asia's most contested events. To its proponents, it was an essential homeland for Hindustani Muslims to safeguard their religious and political rights. To critics, it was a tragic consequence of failed negotiations, colonial strategy, and the politics of religious nationalism.

To address this question, we must understand the ideological foundations, political context, human cost and post-partition realities.

At the heart of Pakistan's creation was the Two-Nation Theory, articulated by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the All-India Muslim League. It claimed Muslims and Hindus were not just religious groups but d

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