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Many Indians back American birch (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hindustan

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'many indians back' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'american birch' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'american' could be 'us' (abbreviation for United States) and 'us' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hindustan that I've seen before include "Land" , "Asian territory" , "region of Asia" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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