Balochistan (Pakistan)
Ancient History
Balochistan was the site of the earliest known
farming settlements upon the
Iranian plateau bordering
South Asia, the earliest of which was
Mehrgarh dated at
6500 BCE. Pakistani Balochistan corresponds to the ancient
Achaemenid province of
Gedrosia that would later be invaded by the
Greeks.
Balochistan was sparsely populated by various tribes, possibly of
Dravidian and
Indo-Iranian origin, for centuries following the decline of the nearby
Harappa-
Mohenjo-daro civilisation to the east. Over time, Balochistan was invaded by various Eurasian groups including the
Aryans,
Persians,
Greeks,
Kushans,
Arabs,
Turks,
Mongols,
Mughals,
Afghans, and the
British. Aryan invasions appear to have led to the eventual demise of the Elamo-Dravidian with the exception of the
Brahui who may have arrived much later as did the Balochis themselves. The Balochis began to arrive from their homeland in northern Iran and appear to be an offshoot of the
Kurdish tribes that would mainly populate the western end of the Iranian plateau. The Balochi tribes eventually became a sizable group rivalled only by another Iranian group, the
Pashtuns, while the Brahuis increasingly came under the cultural influence of the Balochis. Muslim Arab invaders annexed the region during the
Abbasid period and conversion to
Islam was coupled with the Balochi assimilation of Arab culture as well. Today, many Balochis believe that their origins are
Semitic and not
Iranian contrary to linguistic and historical evidence. Balochi tradition holds that they left their
Aleppo homeland in
Syria at some point during the 1st millennium CE and moved to Balochistan, but it appears more likely that the Balochis are an Iranian group who have absorbed some Arab ancestry and cultural traits instead. Balochistan subsequently was dominated by empires based in
Iran and
Afghanistan as well as the
Mughal empire based in India.
Ahmed Shah Durrani annexed the region as part of a "greater"
Afghanistan. The area would eventually revert to local Balochi control, while parts of the northern regions would continue to be dominated by Pashtun tribes.
British Era
During the period of the British
Raj, there were four
Princely States in Balochistan:
Makran,
Kharan,
Las Bela and
Kalat, the largest and most powerful. During the first few decades of the 20th century it became clear that the British would eventually leave and that India would be partitioned.
Kalat was ruled by
Mir Ahmed Yar Khan, who wanted independence rather than possible Pakistani rule. Indeed, the British had given many Princely States the choice of either
India, Pakistan or independence during the immediate pre-partition period (though they were worried of having too many independent nations).
There were two devastating earthquakes in Balochistan during the British colonial rule. The
1935 Balochistan Earthquake devasted
Quetta. The
1945 Balochistan Earthquake occurred in
Makran region and was felt in other regions of
South Asia.
Post Independence
When the British eventually gave India (and the newly-created Pakistan) independence in August
1947 Mir Ahmed Yar Khan declared Kalat's independence. Though this was not a Baloch-wide movement, many Baloch chiefs sympathised with the idea.
In April
1948 the Pakistani army was brought in, and Mir Ahmed Yar Khan signed an accession agreement ending Kalat's de facto independence. His brother, Prince Abdul Karim, decided to carry on the struggle. Basing himself in
Afghanistan he conducted a
guerrilla war against the Pakistani army. However, this eventually failed.
Rahimuddin Khan's Reign
The uprising itself had suffered from the ruthless suppression of Baloch People by Pakistani Armed forces. Attacks were organised by BPLF and armed organization. Also, the Baloch hoped to get the support of the
USSR, which never happened. Also, the large Pashtun minority in Balochistan supported the movement of Independent Balochistan, but never participated in the Armed resistance, though they supported the Balochs in Political Front.
Another Pathan (Belonged to Pakistan army) who was hostile to the idea of an independent Balochistan was
Rahimuddin Khan, a distinguished Lieutenant General at the time (later General). Soon after Zia's assuming power, Rahimuddin was appointed
Martial Law Governor of Balochistan, a position that headed all affairs to do with the province, and thus was, for the Pakistani government, a phenomenally powerful post.
Rahimuddin's unprecedentedly long rule (1978-1984) crushed any armed uprisings within the province with an iron fist, killing hundreds of Balochs and sending into exile thousands. His completely isolating Balochs from provincial policy was a move that, over time, gained increasing
controversy, due to the unheard of nature of Rahimuddin's style of government.
This, in retrospect, ultimately led to the most stable period Balochistan has ever witnessed in its short history as a Pakistani province.
1990s to Present
Since the
1970s there has been some small-scale violence. The area had been badly affected by fighting and instability in Afghanistan, with arms and refugees flooding the province. Small attacks have occurred against coal miners, oil prospectors, and energy infrastructure.
In
1998 Pakistan conducted
nuclear tests in the
Chagai Hills, in north-western Balochistan.
On
15 June,
2006, an estimated 600 fighters, led by three commanders, agreed to lay down their weapons after talks with Shoaib Nausherwani, Baluchistan's minister for internal affairs, in Dera Bugti district
[1].
There are 26 districts in Balochistan.
The economy of the province is largely based upon the production of natural gas, coal and minerals. The province's natural resources significantly help to meet the energy needs of Pakistan as a whole, but mainly benefit Pashtun mine workers as opposed to the more nomadic Baluch. Infrastructure outside of
Quetta is still in development as is the province as a whole. Tourism remains limited but has increased due to the exotic appeal of the province. Limited farming in the east as well as fishing along the
Arabian Sea coastline are other forms of income and sustenance for the local populations.
Due to the tribal lifestyle of many Baluch and Brahui, animal husbandry is important as are trading bazaars found throughout the province.
Though the province remains underdeveloped, changes are coming as plans for pipelines running from Iran to India as well Central Asian pipelines are all envisioned to be built in Balochistan.
There are five main public universities in Balochistan, but there many private also in setting up to deliver the increasing demands for the province.
*
Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology*
Balochistan University of Information Technology and Management Sciences*
Command and Staff College*
Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University*
University of BalochistanThe delicate ethnic balance in the province was disrupted by Afghan refugees making the Pashtuns at least numerically equal to the Baloch in recent years. The Baloch tribes have been the most prone to rebellion in Pakistan, in part due to their fiercely independent lifestyle as well as complaints at the lack of development and attention from the central government in
Islamabad. These complaints have been partially addressed as the government has set-up schools and improved infrastructure near major settlements. Balochistan remains one of the most conservative provinces in Pakistan and women are expected to wear the
hijab unlike in many large cities where there are fewer restrictions. The Baloch adhere to a clan-like structure and code of honor called
mayar that bears some resemblance to
Pashtunwali, but with significant differences including the Baloch hierarchy and allegiance to Sardars and subordinate Waderas, both tribal chieftains, that the more individualistic and egalitarian Pashtuns lack. The Sardars remain prominent in the province thanks in part to the British who boosted their authority.
Due to the nature of Pakistan's parliamentary-style government, political power is often shared at various levels and the recent election of the Balochistan-born
Zafarullah Khan Jamali to the post of Prime Minister is an indication of the growing role of the province in national affairs.
Pre-Independence (pre-1947)
Post-Independence (post-1947)
* General Rahimuddin Khan
* Zafarullah Khan Jamali
* Ataullah Mengal
* Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti
* Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo*
Quetta*
Gawadar*
Baloch*
Balochistan (region)*
Balochistan (Iran)*
Pashtuns*
Brahui*
List of cities in Balochistan*
Chief Minister of Balochistan
