(EDITORIAL) The accession to Pakistan of the states of Las Bela, Kharan and Makran, members of the loose Kalat confederacy, is an indication of their Rulers’ sense of realism and is in complete accord with the wishes of the people of these territories. Their patriotic act isolates the Khan of Kalat whose delay in making up his own mind as to his state’s future has been unhelpful to all concerned, including himself. … The Khan’s attitude became the subject of much injurious speculation… .

…The choice before the Pakistan Govern­ment was between welcoming within the fold of the Dominion some 150,000 people inhabiting the States of Las Bela, Kharan and Mak­ran, whose Rulers were most anxious to join Pakistan for the common good … and continuing to keep them in suspense because the Ruler of Kalat could not make up his mind… . Now that decisive action has been taken the Khan of Kalat will be well advised to recognise its decisiveness. … The constitutional position of the latter as the nominal head of the confederacy was never recognised as so strong that it could cut right through the other three’s independence of choice on the question of accession.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2023