Officially (Government of India) there are only 4 Consulates and 13 “Information Centers." Since "Information Centers" sounds a bit dodgy, most India-friendly media call them "Consulates." I guess the Pakistan media followed suit. So, pick your number: the four in Herat, Mazar e Sharif, Jalalabad and Kandahar; the 9 cited by some Indian media sources; or the 17 cited by the Asia Times and by Pakistani sources in general. You want to call them "information centers"? Fine. It is safe to say these entities are not issuing visas. Pick your word. And if you have the time and inclination, I would like to learn more about what difference it makes. What difference it makes, at all.
Thanks for your kind words.
As you probably know, much of what goes on in Pakistan and Afghanistan is undocumented on account of the fact that there is a hot war afoot and even journalists are very careful about what they put on paper. So, sorry about the gaps in "evidence."
I was not suggesting that the Pakistani army is on-board with the plans for Balochistan. Quite the contrary. And this is pretty clear in the latter part of the essay where I express the opinion that if the Baloch succeed further in their aspirations for independence that the (Punjabi) army will step in with a vengance. I am sure you know that they are already fighting the separatists, and I say that. Since the Musharraf debacle the army is very reluctant to step into politics directly. But if something outlandish looked like it was going to happen, like the "deal" Clinton brokered between the civilian regime and the Indian government that India get a "trade corridor" that runs through the Vagah border (which is on what used to be the outskirts of Lahore) the military will step in. The Pakistani military is treading a very fine line in which it wants to preserve its relationship with the Afghan Taliban while eliminating the Pakistani Taliban. In my opinion the Afghan Taliban will inevitably come back as a major force--and not one that will play footsie with India the way Karzai is. For the dimensions of this under-the-table flirtation, check out the 17 consulates they have erected in Afghanistan, but this is all temporary.
I'm sorry my article was not clearer. Thank you for your comment.
Your 7th grade version is wrong, but if you prefer it, cheers!
Officially (Government of India) there are only 4 Consulates and 13 “Information Centers." Since "Information Centers" sounds a bit dodgy, most India-friendly media call them "Consulates." I guess the Pakistan media followed suit. So, pick your number: the four in Herat, Mazar e Sharif, Jalalabad and Kandahar; the 9 cited by some Indian media sources; or the 17 cited by the Asia Times and by Pakistani sources in general. You want to call them "information centers"? Fine. It is safe to say these entities are not issuing visas. Pick your word. And if you have the time and inclination, I would like to learn more about what difference it makes. What difference it makes, at all.
Thanks for your kind words.
As you probably know, much of what goes on in Pakistan and Afghanistan is undocumented on account of the fact that there is a hot war afoot and even journalists are very careful about what they put on paper. So, sorry about the gaps in "evidence."
Dear Parrhesia,
I was not suggesting that the Pakistani army is on-board with the plans for Balochistan. Quite the contrary. And this is pretty clear in the latter part of the essay where I express the opinion that if the Baloch succeed further in their aspirations for independence that the (Punjabi) army will step in with a vengance. I am sure you know that they are already fighting the separatists, and I say that. Since the Musharraf debacle the army is very reluctant to step into politics directly. But if something outlandish looked like it was going to happen, like the "deal" Clinton brokered between the civilian regime and the Indian government that India get a "trade corridor" that runs through the Vagah border (which is on what used to be the outskirts of Lahore) the military will step in. The Pakistani military is treading a very fine line in which it wants to preserve its relationship with the Afghan Taliban while eliminating the Pakistani Taliban. In my opinion the Afghan Taliban will inevitably come back as a major force--and not one that will play footsie with India the way Karzai is. For the dimensions of this under-the-table flirtation, check out the 17 consulates they have erected in Afghanistan, but this is all temporary.
I'm sorry my article was not clearer. Thank you for your comment.