A STRONG plea for the “Anschluss” of Baluchistan with the Province of Sind was made by Mr M.A. Khuhro, Premier of Sind, in an exclusive interview to Dawn on Monday [Dec 8]. The Sind Premier referred to the demand made by Baluch for granting their homeland the status of a Governor’s province, as well as to the proposal by another section for its amalgamation with Sind. [In the present situation,] Mr Khuhro said, Baluchistan would need a subsidy of at least Rs 1 crore from Pakistan Central Government, which the latter could ill-afford.

The amalgamation of Baluchistan with Sind, on the other hand, would result in large savings on overhead administrative expenditure. Geographically too, Baluchistan and Sind had much in common. The entire irrigation system of the former depended on the latter. … If [amalgamation] came about the provincial Government would move to Quetta during summer. — Dawn Staff Correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported from Lahore,] While officers of the Indian Army are willing to render … help to have Muslim families evacuated and abducted women and girls recovered from the East Punjab, VCOs and sepoys do not co-operate in these matters with search parties from Pakistan. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2022