I don't think Mr. Akbar should worry about one million or two million Pakistanis coming to India. Sheila Dixit has food and space for illegal Bangladeshis and Congress has food and space for millions of Pakistanis, after all they will inflat Congress vote bank. If Congress can accommodate 30 million illegal Bangladeshis it can absorbe millions of Pakistanis. But worry is where Hindus/Sikhs will go.

sir,your prediction seems a distant possibility to me.juxtaposing east pakistan of 1971 and present day pakistan would be nothing but a gross underestimation of Pakistan's potentials.If we look at the growth of pakistan since 1947, in no way it appears below par apart from lack of democratic setup.On different parameters like that of social or economy pakistan is not that behind India or any other south asian country.Now coming directly to your fear of legions trying to get inside India.There is no doubt that there has been an insidious spread of radical islam in pakistan ,but not to forget that this spread has been condoned by different stake holders of the state with diferent aims.when it comes to doing away with radicle islam ,for a mighty military like that of pakistan it would be a matter of weeks if not days.The only thing standing between a radicalised pakistan and a freer one is the realisation on the part different stake holders of state that threshold is coming closer and time has come to withdraw all clandestine supports that the radicle groups have been getting.on ours part we should hope that this realisation comes sooner than later ,so that we are not left to deal with your mentioned predicament.

It is a tough question but a tough question needs a philosophical answer.The Punjabis are a people with a heart of gold just like their land which they have tilled for centuries.They have always respected a guest at their doors.Now to the second part of the undesirables that is a hard one to answer.Let us hope in the end that this just remains a question.

I believe the only thing india should do is ignore pakistan and its citizens. India should try and build a wall strong and impermeable enough that no one not even air can come to india from pakistan
India is on path to development and last thing india should be concerned about are some religious fundamentalists from Pakistan. Pakistan is a separate state and I dont give a damn about them
If in a hypothetical scenario muslims from pakistan do enter india it would do nothing but push india into a civil war. If pakistanis want to come to india then they would have to abandon islam because islamic facism is the cause of most problems in the world and this is the problem india should avoid at all costs

Brilliant, as usual. Prescient perhaps. But most of all informed by Mr. Akbar's moral reasoning, the distinctive trait of all great writing.

When I read Mr. Akbar, I don't find myself reading mere editorial or reportage. Instead I am pulled in as spectator and participant in a human drama, often epochal in proportion and tragic in denoueument.

That is what he describes here, the end of the dream of dreams, the collapse of the house for the subcontinent's Muslims.

Indians, should this happen, may well feel vindicated that the two-nation theory has been put to rest. But they would do well to remember that the collapse was not preordained.

Any nation forced to turn upon itself with a gun held to its head can disintegrate. Iraq did.

Siddhartha Banerjee
Oxford, Pennsylvania

You made your bed in 1947, now sleep on its thorns.
One billion voices should shout at the top of their lung powers.

My dear Akbar:
I know over time you have abandoned the nutrality and is more sympathatic to jihad.
Still, you have raised a pertinent question and we must know that the scenario you have raised is very very plausible and the GOI must prepare for it post haste. We must have refugee camps ready that can be activated at short notice. Officials to take charge must be trained and SOPs must be prepared and kept ready. Possiblity of jihadis coming in as refugees to create mayhem must be kept in mind and this contingency must be catered to.
If these are done, then maybe we will not have a catastrophe at hand and we can welcome the sisters and children first and then later after due verification brothers back. Then Indian army should move in, make parts of Pakistan safe and take back the refugees so that they do not become a permenant burden to India. The secured areas should be sanitised of madrassa culture and proper true education and facilities should be created so that the experiment of pukistan is not repeated.
Of course DO NOT expect the returning refugees to be greateful.

Mr.M.J.Akbar is one of the best writer, columnist india has ever produced. As to his query regarding how india would react in the said situation, I believe all indians including RSS, Bajrang dal and vishwa hindu parishad will forget 63 years of animosity and move forward to help pakistanis standing at the wagah border. This is the indian ethos nurtured over thousands of years. No needy person has ever been turned away from our door. this article has helped to bring in focus essential human aspect of the differences between these two nations. Thank you Mr.Akbar.
S.SHANKAR

no thanks, country's full.

I don't know what were you thinking writing all this. Pakistan getting disintegrated, refugees in India, Taliban takeover of Pakistan, civil war, fall of the state and blah blah is only your feel good imagination. Nothing like this would ever happen i assure you this much.

Love from Pakistan

What you have replied? We are more interested to know that.

Akbarji, pardon me but your article sounds very filmy. Pakistani's need to find there own destiny. A destiny without hate. India must go on. There is already too much weight on our shoulders. I'd hate to fall now for the sake of extra morals.

The only conclusion I can draw from this article is that a crumbling Pakistan simply must not be allowed to keep its nuclear weapons or its program. This state is clearly imploding, for columns like this to even become conceivable.
--An American observer.

Sir,
That such a situation could arise is a distant possibility. If it were to happen, the possible impact on Indian federation should not be under-estimated. We are still in the process of defining Indian nationhood and this process will get disrupted by the arrival of Pakistanis on the border.

I do not think that people in Indian Punjab, mostly Hindus and Sikhs would welcome the people from Pakistan, most of whom are Muslims because of the hatred which they have for each other. While in Bangladesh, both Muslims and Hindus wrote Bangali in the same script, the Muslims of Punjab never conceded Punjabi to be their mother tounge. While people in Indian Punjab write Punjabi in Gurmukhi script, the people in Pakistani Punjab write it in Persian script. Moreover, Bangladesh has a sizeable number of Hindus living in it while in Pakistani Punjab, there is hardly any Sikh or Hindu left. So, it is almost impossible that people from Indian Punjab would welcome refugees from Pakistan even if they are fleeing from Taliban.

Absolutely Brilliant. what a vissionary Mr.Akbar is . Hats off , we eagerly await his weekly mater pieces.

What a preposterous idea. What is author trying to do...suggest that they spread the pakistani instability into india...and conveniently forgets that among these 1 millions could be thousands of talibanis. Although it should act as a wake up call for the powers in Delhi for the grim reality and take measures to prevent such scenarios.

I have'nt read a crap like this since a long long time. Just because you are M J Akber it does not give you liberty and licence to humiliate a sovereign nation and its people. It is disgusting and repugnant. What a scenario he is depting. I want to ask you a simple question Mr. Akber how would you or Indians react if a Pakistani columnist wriets in Dawn or Jung asking Pakistanis what would be their raction if millions of Muslims from India gather at the same Wagah border seeking asylum to protect themselves from Narendra Modi or Balthakrey.The tyrany of these bigots is no less horrifying than the appaling acts of Taliban and our Govt has also miserably failed in reigning them in.

Rather that the existing Pakistan split into 5 new countries and they all stay where they are. Do we really want another movement of refugees a la Partition and Kashmir?! I surely dont.

MrAkbar raised a valid question in view of present state of Pakistan ridden with myriad of problems.India should see that Pakistan emerges as democratic country without meddling.

Heavens forbid that calamity. This is the proverbial Pandora's box. There is no bl**dy way I would want any refugee western neighbours to set foot on my beloved motherland. Jihadis would want to mingle and arrive with them.

Although I am politically neutral and not particularly religeous, I'm not blind to current affairs. The Congress Party will be finished off by the people of India, if they went any further with that kind of "Aman ki aasha."

Besides, the Kashmiri Hindus stay disenfranchised and displaced to this day, thanks to the Pakistani Jihadis. Shouldn't charity begin at home? Our own need to be helped before helping others.

First of, this is just a streched out hypothetical situation. Only thing Indians have to worry right now is young Muslim terrorists killing Hindus en masse.

Pakistanis have decimated the native populations of Hindus/Sikhs and now insult the remaining by calling themselves an Islamic republic.

What would Muslims in Pakistan do if there was an exodus of million plus Sikhs/Hindus from India?

Would they let us enter their territory or shoot us dead?

Pakistan will soon be to India, what Mexico is to America - and endless flood of refugees.

It had choice, it could have been India's Canada - but it screwed up. Religion does not a nation make.

Unthinkable wall/Iron curtain between India and Pakistan will fall. Will it result bloody war and merger or peaceful unification. I see the first.

Let me start oiling my gun.

Do you really believe Hindus will receive one millions Muslims with an open arm? Forget about Pakistan, there is a real possibility that with the global warming Bangladesh will go under water, will India take in over 100 million Bangladeshi Muslims? What will be the solution? Shoot them all before they try to enter the country!

Dear Mr. Akbar,
My family migrated from the west punjab in 1947 and what I still remember is how we ran through the streets of jhelum to escape the bullets and swords. We lost four of our family members, brutally munrdered in front of our eyes. I was only five years old. I do not remember my house but can not forget the carnage.
I am sure this happened to muslims as well migrating from this side of the border.
Prophet Mohammad preached that 'if you have an enemy you must try and make peace with him to the extent that offer your daughter to marry in that family to eliminate the enimity.' What a noble thought.
Now coming back to the reality of life, specially in Kuwait, wherever we find a pakistani working in any of the ministries, he will extend all the help once i speak their own language. If language can do this wonder what can happen when we are face to face.
Punjab will surely receive the pakistani public with open arms and give them shelter and food in case such an event takes place.
Pakistan must realize that nations are not built based on the religion but on nationlism. If nations were built based on the religion, how we have so many countries in this part of the world despite having the same religion, culture, language and interests as well?
Pakistani public should realize this and stand against the military's hate india and hate hindu theory.
We do not wish that such number of people are uprooted from their homes and become refugees (we know it very well what life a refugee has to live).

Pakistan is already in a difficult situation, their masters (whoever they are, from whom Pakistanis have billions of aid) should be thinking of this, and that shouldn't be a matter for India or Indians to think of. We should also think - did creation of Pakistan helped anyone, by anyone, I mean anyone.

Hmmmm. I smell something really bad. I wonder if this is Pakistan’s strategic move to infiltrate Mujahidins into India to carry out massive attacks and devastate us. India ‘Jaagte Raho’ don’t let this happen ever otherwise you will be responsible for your own destruction.

A journalist of M J's standing could not be writing all this from a mere hunch. However, the known premises are that the western forces are helping the Pakistan Govt. and Army to flush out the terorrists for everyone's sake. Pakistan, is a sovereign state, and is acting out of its responsibility towards its citizens. The other nations would not be there without the govt's consent. Agreed, that many, in any country detest the presence of foreign troops, but no data has been provided that would suggest a civil war. If that be so, then the military, civil defence surge should re-align their reference points. It is preposterous to suggest that the Pakistan Govt. would do otherwise for the safety of its citizens. We respect the soveignity of our neighbour, and cannot believe that the citizens or the country is dismembered when a responsible,elected government has taken up a cause against terrorism on its own soil, for its own sake, and for the sake of the world, with understanding countries ready to help them in this cause. One can only comment on the basis of all that is known and declared from responsible agencies. We all hope for an early return of peace and normalcy in the neighborhood.

Real 'Thought Provoking' article.

Pretty Good Worst Case Scenario Analysis. One interesting point that You carefully noted that Pakistani comes to India border than going to Chinese border even though they consider Chinese as their friend. I think we need to consider all the potential scenario with Pakistan both political(regional as well as global), commerce etc., because of their current volatile situation and future uncertainty.

I have a solution for such an eventuality.Their arrival will signify that Pakistani army has either withered away or finally dropped all pretenses to merge with their strategic asset - the Taliban. As these asylum seekers begin arriving on the border. Indian army should move in to take over Lahore, Sialkot and Multan areas under their supervision. All the Pakistani refugees can then be given shelter and security in their own homes so to say.

Such an event will place tremendous hardship on the shoulders of India, particularly Punjab. However, I think the people of Punjab will respond in the way they are famous for.....I think they will be there to lend a helping hand. At least, I like to think so and certainly hope so. All this hatred...this was not the reason why Pakistan was born. I am an advocate of the thought that Pakistan should never have been found......its creation is a testament to the indians' inability to reconcile with all its people. I think India and Pakistan should revert back to one country and become the force that it was intended to be.

What if majority of the refugees are militants in disguise? what then? We are the second most populated country in the world let us not add to it any more. Let China take the refugees. NOT INDIA.

A very valid and thought provoking question sir...a am scared as there are many answers to this question , but an honest and correct approach can only be followed after an Unequivocal support by all....
we will welcome them as we are the most gregarious race and it is not in our nature to throw someone out from our door step's.....but we will in addition to this have to clean up Pakistan...as we do not want a Mexico-US scenario rather a Canada-US type relationship is more welcomed......but before we day-dream...we need to first remove all qualms....which is easier said than done.....

Why do you keep on day-dreaming?? Nothing of that sort is going to happen in the near future. In any case, such an import of muslim population will only destabilize India further with strengthened demands for separate religious laws and crap things like that.

Shabana, I will concur with you. Mr Akbar is a realist and had brilliantly written his piece by pure reasoning and logic.
I will go further to say that all Indians are duty bound by their conscience to support Pakistan morally in their present war against those AQ, Taleban and Islamic fundamentalists to protect their beloved country. Indirectly, Pakistan is also protecting India. How many Indians realise that the main objective of the Al Q. and Taleban is India. Pakistan is only an obstruction for them on their path through the Wagah border. Never forget that 95% of Hindus live in one country and if they could Islamicise India then they will cake walk through SE Asia and then Australia and the South Pacific. This is not my view but historians and religious scholars have redrawn the Islamic map which includes chunks of Europe, India, S and SE Asia which includes the Malaysian Peninsula, Australia and New Zealand, decades ago. Add Islamic Pakistan and Indonesia and you have the picture. I am anticipating many correspondents in this blog will accuse me of sensationalising the possibility, but to deny a possible fact is only part of putting up a face from a frightful reality.

Mr MJ Akbar,
Giving refuge to the innocent people is not a bad thing but it has many implecation and unwanted results in future. Our motherland accepts all with tolerance but that doesnt mean that we have to be human towards the people who have been supporting insurgency and barbaric injustice when it mattered to support the Indian concerns. Look @ the Bangladeshis refugees who came to India, even Hindus were there and mostly muslims have become the vote banks for the communists by any means and doing nothing for their people for last 4 decades even after being in power. Refugees are prevailing in the country everywhere from Assam to West bengal to Rajasthan to Mumbai.and there have been many incidents where these refugees have been found indulging in terrorist activities. Now tell me how justified it is to give the safe place for the people who might become anti national...

My god!! I pray to god that congress is not in power when that happens!!

pakistani civil soceity should force their govt to shed anti india stand as well as take strong action against fundamental&anti india elements.They will survive as a as modern progressive nation.Otherwise refugees will come here, which we cant acomudate but our forces will enter pakistan and will set things right.

Akbar Sahib,
A well thought article and as good as the one you wrote fifteen ago about Jyoti Basu not becoming PM. Although, the house is over full over here! But the days are not far off when half of Pakistan would be in Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujrat only to hide their skin here. The situation in Pakistan is so beyond imagination. The Geopolitics is at its height in Pakistan. The so called forces helping Pakistan in bringing peace will leave it in a big lurch, as they are trying to leave Iraq after razing the 3000 year old Mesopotamian Civilization.. History is a testimony that no theocratic state has ever survived. Pakistan too will disappear from the map of the world. It will disappear as East Pakistan disappeared for ever. US with its allies is playing a big game in the region extending East of Suez and is looking for a permanent colony in Pakistan to control the oil rich areas of Middle East. We (India) will not be left untouched by evil designs of US. India is helpless under the present circumstances as Pakistan has always regarded US as its most trusted ally. The same trusted friend today has stabbed bayonet into its belly. US is such a friend

Not just with Pakistan but with the entire ASEAN nations, India is planning to have a singular currency along with free trade which allows people to intermingle in societies. All nations will be considered co-equal with a czar on top to oversee just like the European Union. Although the imagery you've portrayed is inconceivable, the days are not far off when we will all be ruled by a single czar with a united currency. This will all happen under the very nose of the so-called patriots of individual nations.

Disintegration isnt as random as it sounds. The backing of the nation is strong enough to withstand jolts even greater. Lets not confuse wealth as the only factor of backing. If Pak reached anywhere near disintegration, we will see half the Islamic nations come to their rescue. We shall barely ever find people from Pak lined up to become refugees in India. im sure India would fall very low in their priority list.

OUR PAKISTANI BROTHERS CAN MIGRATE TO INDIA ANYTIME THEY WANT, INDIA IS ALSO THEIR COUNTRY.
WE SHOULD FORGET THIS HATRED AND CONSIDER PAKISTANIS AS OUR BROTHERS, TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE OVER THE WORLD.
I AM REALLY ASHAMED BY READING SO MANY HATE FILLED COMMNENTS BY MY FELLOW INDIANS, THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM USA/JEWS CREATED TALIBAN.

respected sir, start writing fiction. who knows, you might get some prestigious award one day!

Pakistan's not going anywhere sir...and if we do have problems we certainly won't turn to you Indians for help..What arrogance..what an utterly condescending article. We hated India in 1947 and we still hate you 60 years later...people like you are the reason why....

MJ AKBAR you should write fiction. I also read blogs against you writing for Guardian when you were ridiculed or i should say ripped apart by English .What will Indians do if China attacked India and divided into 24 states? What will you do? Prepare to accommodate Bengla deshis now the real possibility with rising sea level. But you lot are so poor and tight that you can,t support your own people from slums of yours. Wake up mate, Pakistanis are very proud and brave people. Pakistan zinda abad

When million pakistani lands up on indian border then do what indira gandhi did in 1971 in east pakistan when millions of persecuted bengalis refugees started arriving in india to escape pak army' genocide.Take the control of few Pakistani cities and give these refugees army protection in those cities. Thats the only solution I can think of.But I just pray that we won't have congress in the center when this happens.

India should build a "Great Wall Of India" on the western border with Pakistan starting from the Arabian sea coast all the way to Kashmir. Otherwise, the scenario of millions of radicalized Muslims from Pakistan pouring into India will become a reality. As Pakistani economy continue to disintegrate, while India gets richer, it is inevitable that there will be a flood of illegals from Pakistan. The only visionary way to prevent that would be to start the Great Wall of India project without delay. Not to mention, that could become a great tourist attraction like the Chinese wall.

If such a thing happens, we should welcome them and put them in PoK. Hardly makes any difference to us?