This Region Of Present-Day Pakistan Wanted To Merge With India In 1947, But The British Had Other Plans
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, located in northwestern Pakistan, borders Afghanistan and is home to a Pashtun-majority population.
When the British partitioned India in 1947, one of the most contentious issues was the future of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (then known as the North-West Frontier Province, or NWFP), where strong resistance to joining Pakistan was evident. Historical accounts suggest that the British denied the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the option to merge with India, giving them only two options – either merge with the British or go with Pakistan. This move not only shaped the political map of South Asia but also left a legacy of unrest that persists to this day.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, located in northwestern Pakistan, borders Afghanistan and is home to a Pashtun-majority population. The province covers 1,01,741 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 4 crore people. About 75–80% of the population are Pashtuns, while smaller ethnic groups and linguistic communities such as Hindko, Chitrali, and Kohistani also reside there. Pashto is the dominant language, although Hindi and Urdu is also spoken by some communities. Despite its distinct cultural identity, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was ultimately incorporated into Pakistan through a process that many argue lacked legitimacy and fairness.
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A Growing Push to Join India
In the lead-up to independence, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a hotbed of political activity. The Khudai Khidmatgar movement, led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (popularly known as ‘Frontier Gandhi’), had aligned itself with the Indian National Congress during the freedom struggle. The movement, rooted in non-violence and social justice, was widely supported among the Pashtun population, which was either in favour of being independent or merging with India. The idea of joining Pakistan was not popular among the Pashtuns, who were wary of the Muslim League’s communal politics.
When the British announced the partition of India, Abdul Ghaffar Khan described it as a betrayal. “You have thrown us to the wolves," he is reported to have told Mahatma Gandhi after the Congress leadership agreed to the partition plan. The Khudai Khidmatgar movement actively campaigned against joining Pakistan, but their voices were sidelined through political maneuvering.
The Referendum
In July 1947, the British government organised a referendum in NWFP to determine its political future. However, the people were presented with only two choices: join Pakistan or remain under British rule. The option of merging with India or establishing an independent Pashtunistan was deliberately excluded. Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Khudai Khidmatgar boycotted the referendum in protest.
With only 15% voter turnout, the referendum resulted in a majority vote for Pakistan. The British ensured that the process remained skewed in favour of Pakistan.
Political Fallout and Suppression
After Pakistan was formed, the Pakistani government moved swiftly to suppress dissent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Abdul Ghaffar Khan and his supporters faced arrests and political persecution. The Khudai Khidmatgar movement was dismantled, and any talk of independence or merging with India was brutally crushed.
Raghavendra Singh, former Director General of the National Archives, detailed this episode in his book India’s Lost Frontier – The Story of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Singh highlighted that the Congress government elected in 1946 in NWFP was dismissed shortly after Partition, further marginalising the political will of the Pashtun people.
Persistent Unrest and Separatist Movements
The historical resentment over the merger fuelled political instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for decades. Today, several separatist and militant movements continue to challenge the Pakistani government’s control over the region. Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) emerged as a significant non-violent movement advocating for the rights of Pashtuns. The PTM accused the Pakistani military and government of treating Pashtuns as second-class citizens and called for the formation of a ‘Greater Pashtunistan’ by uniting Pashtun territories in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the largest Islamic militant group in Pakistan, remains highly active in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the adjoining tribal areas. The TTP seeks to overthrow the Pakistani government and establish Sharia law. The group intensified its attacks on military and government targets, especially after the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Baloch separatist groups have also found common ground with Pashtun rebels, forming alliances to resist Pakistani military operations. The longstanding grievances of both the Baloch and Pashtun communities reflect the broader discontent that stems from the political decisions made at the time of Partition.
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