Balochistan truly became independent on August 11, 1947. The Khanate of Kalat had declared independence, but in March 1948, Pakistan forced Balochistan to join through military pressure. To this day, Balochistan has not been officially recognized as a fully independent country. The international community is reluctant to give formal recognition because it acknowledges Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
The history of the Balochistan rebellion seems to have spread over five main phases from 1948 to the present. It is Pakistan’s longest-running sub-national conflict, rooted in the forced inclusion of 1948. In modern times, organizations like the Baloch Liberation Army have been institutionalizing the rebellion.
The main phases of the rebellion include the first rebellion from 1948–50, when Khan of Kalat’s brother Abdul Karim rejected Pakistan’s forced inclusion and started armed resistance from Afghanistan. The second rebellion took place from 1958–60 under the leadership of Nawab Nauroz Khan, and Pakistan carried out severe military action, executing many. The third rebellion from 1963–69 saw Baloch tribes rise against Ayub Khan’s centralization policies. The fourth rebellion from 1973–77 was the largest, occurring after the elected provincial government was dismissed and resulting in thousands of deaths.
The fifth rebellion started in 2004 due to the exploitation of natural resources, political neglect, and human rights violations, marking the beginning of its modern phase. In this modern phase, organizations like the Baloch Liberation Army have institutionalized the demand for independence, and both the BLA and other groups have organized the rebellion. Currently, the Baloch declare Balochistan as an independent nation, and Baloch nationalists have been celebrating August 11 every year as ‘Independence Day’.
Pakistan accuses India of supporting the Baloch rebellion. India has raised its voice on international platforms about human rights violations in Balochistan, but has not formally supported independence. Similarly, China has shown deep interest in Balochistan because of the Gwadar port and CPEC projects. China has portrayed the Baloch rebellion as ‘terrorism’ and has supported Pakistan. Meanwhile, the European Union has expressed concern over human rights violations but has not supported independence or separatist demands. International organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have published reports on missing activists, torture, and military repression in Balochistan and tried to increase international pressure, but have not received concrete political support.- (Published in City Post Daily)
Add Comment