In the rugged mountains of south west Pakistan lies its largest province, Balochistan. Far from the bustling cities of Lahore and Karachi this region has been the battle ground for a 60-years long insurgency by the Baloch ethnic minority. The Baloch uprising against the Pakistani government has received little attention worldwide. Most eyes have been turned towards the fight against the Taliban and al qaeda in other areas of Pakistan but Baloch people have never accepted being part of Pakistan. Balochistan is best known as no man's land as nobody really cared about it as it was a very mountainous, desert-like area which was largely irrelevant throughout history. For that reason Balochistan served very well the purpose of being a refuge area for people who could not be accommodated to Iranian empires, who moved to today's area to Balochistan taking refuge and carving out some space for themselves. According to Baloch perception, the Baloch see themselves as people of arab origin, some Baloch scholars see the Baloch as conquerors moving eastwards always in search of freedom and self determination. Kalat, the historic capital of balochistan served as a seat of power for the khans of Kalat who ruled this princely state for several centuries. Six decades have passed since its annexation to Pakistan and the only reason Baloch leaders chose to join the new country was a sense of religious obligation as both sides were muslims.
Pakistan became independent in August 1947 and Baloch joined Pakistan in April 1948 for this 9 month period Balochistan was independent while during the British Rule also this princely state of Kalat was retaining some autonomy On August 15, 1947, a day after the creation of Pakistan, the Khan of Kalat, Mir Ahmad Yar Khan declared Kalat’s independence claiming that Kalat was a sovereign state and not subject to automatic inclusion in Pakistan . During the interim period army action was used, and then by force the instrument of accession was signed and pakistan took over the state. The freedom lasted for 227 days and then Balochistan was forcefully occupied and annexed by Pakistan forces. It wasn't part of Pakistan in 1948 so Pakistani army rolled in Balochistan somehow underdo this on the khan of kalat who was the head of Balochistan and was made to sign an accession treaty, that was the main reason why still people do not recognize Balochistan as part of Pakistan and think its an occupied territory.
Over the last 6 decades the Baloch rebellion and Pakistani suppression of it has claimed thousands of lives. Among the dead are many key leaders of insurgency. Nawab Akbar Khan Bhukti, one the most prominent leaders who got killed, a former minister in the government of Pakistan and the leader of Bhukti tribe with whom so many negotiations were also held but the attitude of Pakistanis of their unwillingness to concede the legitimate rights of the smaller provinces of balochistan made them to use force and reach no peaceful means.
As the negotiations failed an army attacked the village killing the leaders and the people of the place. The fight moved to the streets of Balochistan's cities and towns targeting the symbols of pakistan. Establishment miscalculated the people of Balochistan and today we see the movement has spread to each and every corner of Balochistan.
The people are staunchly tribal in Balochistan each of the 18 major tribes is headed by a sardar (chieftain) having their own well armed militia. In the push and pull between Pakistan's government and the Baloch chieftains the lives of ordinary people are at standstill. Despite being Pakistan's largest province Balochistan suffers lowest health, education, and living standards in the country .
Considering public opinion, a jirga (public gathering) was called after 137 years in which 98% Baloch participated and all declared they want their position back the autonomy, the independence and the special status they held that was in 1948 and don't want to go with the mentality of colonialists who snatched their autonomy.
They say their goal is to gain independence for Balochistan. They want to end Punjabi rule over their land and provide their land and provide for their Baloch people. They are fighting for, security, justice and equality. There are Sindhis, Baloch, Pashtuns, Punjabis who live in Pakistan. The resources of Balochistan are being stolen inorder to make Pakistan strong.
Balochs are fighting in separate independent groups with elusive leaders whom very few can identify. The army putting pressure on them makes them retaliate with force. They kill their women and children thereafter Balochs also teach them a lesson by retaliating. thi s annexation remains a complex and contentious issue, with its legacy still influencing the political and ethnic tension in the region.
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