By Sadia Basharat
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of area though on the contrary, it is the smallest one in terms of population. The inhabitants of Balochistan are predominantly Baloch, whereas, Pashtun and other ethnic groups also live there. The two most important aspects of this province that shape its geo-strategic significance are its location and mineral-rich crust. Since, British times, it has been a blood bath region where besides East India Company’s battles against tribal lords, the crown also fought cold & hot wars that ultimately ended in the division of the historically united Balochistan area into three different regions given under the suzerainty of British India, Iran and Afghanistan. The contemporary Balochistan issue is related to the division of British India and Balochistan’s accession to Pakistan.
Balochistan issue has gone through different phases of mainstreaming, calmness, peaceful protests, and violent conflicts. The province due to its strategic location has always attracted power-mongers, traders, and preachers, particularly from West and Central Asia. Russia, China, India, CARs, and all the other regional states recognize its significance as a doorway to hot waters. The United States remains sensitive to the protection of its interest in the region visà-vis China and Russia. The dominant ethnic group, the Baloch, migrated to the area in the 13th century from North and northeast Iran. Since then, they spread their language and culture, and today the vast majority of people can be categorized as Baloch. The Baloch-speaking population is allegedly dominant in the sparsely populated eastern, western, and southeastern regions.
The Baloch nationalist movement started at the country’s inception in 1947 and has been one of the most visible conflicts. It has gained traction in recent years, and the Pakistani government is attempting to address these conflicts through a variety of means, including the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights violations and to promote reconciliation, interfaith dialogue, and tolerance.
In 1839, on the return from Afghanistan, the British sacked the Khan of Kalat, which led to the breakup of Baluchistan. Some parts were given to Shah Shuja of Kabul, while others were handed to the rulers of Sind. The British aimed to control Russia and secure Punjab and Sindh from Baloch uprisings, so the Khanate of Kalat became important in their empire. To secure borders and manage disputes, various agreements were made, like the Durand Line agreement in 1893 between the British and the Afghanistan Ameer Abdur Rehman. Unfortunately, this agreement divided Baluch and Pashtun tribes between different sides of the border, separating them across Iran, Afghanistan, and British India. This division wasn’t accepted by the tribal Baloch, creating a deep divide between them and the British rulers. There was no consensus between the brothers who were the rightful heirs to the Khanate of Kalat. Given the choice to join Pakistan, and India, or remain independent, the Khan of Kalat initially opted for independence on August 15, 1947. However, six months later, on March 27, 1948, he declared to join Pakistan.
However, his younger brother, Shahzada Abdul Karim Khan, didn’t agree with this decision and refused to accept this union. He opposed Pakistan’s government, fled to Afghanistan, and led an armed movement against Pakistan. This rebellion resulted in clashes with the Pakistani military. He was eventually captured in 1958 and sentenced to seven years in prison. For many, this marked the beginning of the Baluchistan dispute.
However, the country’s diverse ethnic and linguistic groups struggled to integrate, cohere, and unite due to a lack of a visionary political framework and visionary leadership after the untimely death of its founding fathers. The Baloch nationalism that emerged in this environment provided fertile ground for opportunistic leaders and foreign governments to take advantage of. Ethnic conflict often arises when the dominant ethnic group within a multiethnic nation seeks to assimilate or integrate a smaller, ethnically distinct group. The natural resources, abundant mineral potential, and geo-strategic and geo-economics significance of Gwadar and its coastal areas are currently being more and more recognized by the Baloch people.
Baloch people believe that money obtained from these sources is not used for Balochistan. The northern, central, and coastal regions of Balochistan are separated linguistically. The majority language in the northern region is Pashto, while the majority language in the central region, particularly in Kalat and Mastung, is Brahui. Balochi speakers’ predominance in the sparsely populated eastern Balochistan, the western region, and the south-eastern regions. Balochi Makrani is the language spoken by locals in coastal areas.
In Quetta, the majority of the population are Pashtun and Hazara. Language a crucial element in identifying sub ethnic groups, needs to be carefully considered in order to comprehend intra-ethnic rivalries between sub ethnic groups. These elements also fuel the polarization of ethnic groups. It is convenient for foreign players, especially those from India and Afghanistan, to incite Baloch ethnic nationalism to cause unrest and disorder. The Baloch demands, which are polarized along ethnic lines, vary from seeking greater provincial autonomy to complete independence for Balochistan. Indicators of Baloch alienation include political underrepresentation, underdevelopment, and a lack of presentation in civil and military bureaucracies. Some writes say the province is a tribal society where sardars have great power and influence. They control crucial decisions, even life and death, and tribespeople rarely defy them. These sardars resist obeying Pakistan’s government to avoid losing their power. However, Balochistan requires unprecedented significance due to its geo-strategic location. Baluchistan, serving as the gateway to the Arabian Sea, has attracted the attention of various regional and global powers. Pakistan government has accused RAW and Mossad of backing separatist and sectarian groups to destabilizing region. Indian leader admitted to interfering in Pakistan affairs notably in Bangladesh creation in 1971, a fact Prime minster Modi confirmed in 2015. The arrest of Indian naval officer Kalbushan Yadav also suggest Indian involvement. Suspicion extend to the roles of the US, Russia and Iran in various moment within Pakistan.
Pakistan has played various roles in attempting to regulate nationalist and ethnic conflict in Balochistan, a province with a history of political grievances and separatist movements. However, the province has experienced numerous insurgencies, each of which was followed by an uneasy calm. These uprisings originated in remote locations where the state’s authority was weak, allowing criminals to take advantage of the widespread feelings of deprivation among the populace.
The Baloch nationalist movement has been suppressed by Pakistani security forces since 2005. During Musharaf era, the use of oppressive measures was taken to combat the dominance held by a select group of tribal chiefs, who were thought to be responsible for the province’s stagnation. On the other side, the sardars openly declare their support for the BLA’s initiatives, nationalist leaders Bugti, Marri, and Mengal refuse to assume command of the group. However, the deaths of Balach Marri and Akbar Bugti , the two pivotal figures in the early stages of the current insurgency, did not end the conflict between Balochistan and the center.
The current chaos is most likely to be resolved only through political means. According to reports, the insurgents are now attacking common people of non-Baloch ethnicity as well as Pakistan’s federal agencies. Numerous academics and researchers believe that the political system and inefficient use of financial resources are the main causes of social conflict. The 18th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan guarantees to increase provincial autonomy for which the provinces had been requesting. Two new clauses have been added to Article 160, which relates to the National Finance commission. These two new clauses are: (3 A) in accordance with this clause, each province’s share in NFC award cannot be less than its share in an earlier award. The government should take more inclusive, participatory, and dialogue-focused stance in order to effectively control the political aspect of the Baloch nationalist movement and achieve long-lasting peace. The Baloch community must be given a forum for open and fruitful political discourse so they can express their concerns and aspiration within the confines of the Pakistani state.
Author: Sadia Basharat is working as business development manager in RUPA media license holder of RT NEWS in Pakistan. She did her Mphil-III – Strategic studies from
National Defence University (NDU) Islamabad.
