A second partition of India based on religion - precisely what Pakistan feels it needs to 'complete' its identity - will unravel India's identity as a secular state. Such a partition would unleash a Hindu communal backlash that would destroy the status, property and possibly even the lives of large numbers of Muslims, especially in northern India. What is worse ... a generalised outbreak of rioting would increase, and not decrease, the risk of war between the two countries.

Pakistanis ... level bitter accusations that Indian Muslims are being held hostage. But this is no more than a debating point, and a rhetorical one at that. The plain fact is that no responsible government can ever take the risk that such a thing might happen, much less get out of hand. (Source: The Outlook, 10 August, 1998)