We definitely didn't have political will or governance. Its all in the hands of the British. Maybe you can argue for Islamic matter yes, but that because the British didn't care for Islam (obviously).

As far for total assimilation, I think many countries in the world were conquered without total assimilation.

Because if you are arguing conquered = total assimilation, I think you can argue that British technically never conquered anyone. Even the Indians retained their identities.

Yet India were clearly under the British empire.