From: jameskerlindsay
Balochistan, the largest yet least densely populated of Pakistan’s provinces, is home to the Baloch people, who constitute approximately 3.5% of Pakistan’s population [00:02:40]. Baloch communities also reside in neighboring Iran and Afghanistan, speaking a language closely related to Iranian [00:02:36]. The region’s rugged borderland terrain has historically played a role in its dynamics [00:01:55].
A History of Conquest and Colonial Rule
Balochistan boasts a history spanning thousands of years [00:02:54]. It has been conquered by various empires, including those of Alexander the Great, the Arabs, the Mongols, and the Persians [00:03:00].
In the mid-19th century, Britain seized the eastern part of the region [00:03:03]. While some areas came under direct colonial rule, Britain also co-opted local rulers, establishing semi-autonomous princely states within British India [00:03:09].
Partition and the Decision to Join Pakistan
British imperial control ended in 1947 with the partition of the subcontinent into Hindu-dominated India and the majority-Muslim Pakistan [00:03:20]. The princely states were given the choice to become independent countries or unite with one of the new states [00:03:31].
Most of Balochistan’s princely states opted to merge with Pakistan [00:03:39]. However, the Khanate of Kalat, the largest territory, initially chose independence [00:03:44]. Under heavy pressure from Pakistan, its ruler relented, and on March 27, 1948, Kalat joined Pakistan [00:03:51]. This decision remains a source of resentment for many Baloch to this day [00:04:00].
Seven years later, in 1955, Kalat was officially dissolved, and the various parts of Balochistan were united as a single administrative unit [00:04:09]. A further reorganization in 1970 made Balochistan the largest of Pakistan’s four top-level provinces [00:04:19].
Troubled Union and Rising Grievances
From its inception, Balochistan’s incorporation into Pakistan was marked by unrest [00:04:29]. Baloch militants launched an armed uprising in 1948, rejecting what they perceived as forced incorporation [00:04:34]. Several more significant rebellions followed in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s [00:04:43].
Although the situation seemed to calm by the 1980s, underlying tensions persisted [00:04:49]. Beyond political resentment, social and economic discontent grew [00:04:56]. Despite possessing considerable resources, including gold, copper, coal, and oil, Balochistan was largely ignored by the central government [00:05:02]. The province suffered from chronic poverty and neglect, lagging far behind the rest of the country in almost every socioeconomic measure [00:05:10].
Adding to the complexities, the demographic balance began to shift as ethnic Pashtun communities moved into the province [00:05:18].
Resurgence of Insurgency
After two decades of relative peace, fighting erupted again in 2005 [00:05:24]. The US-led invasion of neighboring Afghanistan spurred cross-border resistance, leading to an increased presence of Pakistani troops in Balochistan [00:05:30]. This surge in troop numbers intensified local resentment, sparking a new rebellion [00:05:36].
In response, the government launched a major crackdown, imposing harsh measures and mass arrests over the following decade [00:05:43]. Reports emerged of systematic torture and the disappearance of thousands of detainees [00:05:52].
Despite these efforts, the Baloch insurgency has continued for the past two decades [00:05:59]. The most serious and well-organized group is the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Britain, the European Union, Iran, and China [00:06:13]. This ongoing insurgency continues to be a significant challenge to Pakistan’s internal stability and its foreign relations, having significant domestic and foreign policy implications [00:08:29].