Western media’s lack of political sensitivites
AFP is carrying this article referring to India’s partition today.
When British colonial rule ended in 1947, India was divided along religious lines. Muslims settled in West Pakistan and East Pakistan — now Bangladesh — while India was dedicated for Hindus.
Since the article was about Pakistan’s independence, this is probably their Pakistani correspondent repeating the stuff in his text books. It shouldn’t be very hard to figure out the stats for yourself.
It seems to be widely accepted that the percentage of Hindus in Pakistan has dwindled to < 2%, whereas the percentage of Muslims in India has increased to 14%. The electorate (or whatever is left out of it through the years of miliatry dictatorships) was till recently partitioned between Muslims and non-Muslims.
I find it surprising that this passed through AFP's editorial scissors.
The more practical minded Pakistanis will realize that it's in their economic interest by working out some kind of a loose federation with India, instead of letting the country used as a tool by both western governments and Al-Qaeda.