Balochistan, the largest and most resource-rich province of Pakistan, has been embroiled in a long-standing and bitter struggle for freedom and autonomy a conflict that has been violently suppressed, deliberately ignored, and ruthlessly silenced by the Pakistani establishment. Despite its vast mineral wealth and strategic location, Balochistan remains the most impoverished, underdeveloped and militarized region of the country. But beyond the statistics of deprivation lies a deeper narrative a nation fighting for identity, dignity and independence from what many Baloch consider a colonial-style occupation by the Pakistani state. The Baloch freedom movement, though heavily censored and underreported by mainstream Pakistani and international media, is alive, burning and gaining momentum with each passing year. This article explores the history, causes, human rights abuses, role of Baloch nationalist groups, suppression by the Pakistani military and the rising calls for international support for the Baloch struggle for freedom.

The Balochistan conflict has its roots in the forceful annexation of the Baloch state of Kalat by Pakistan in March 1948. The Khan of Kalat, Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, had initially refused to accede to Pakistan after British India was partitioned. He demanded independence, citing Kalat’s sovereign status under the British as a princely state with separate treaties.
Despite initial negotiations, Pakistan launched a military invasion and forcibly annexed Kalat—triggering the first Baloch insurgency in 1948. Since then, Balochistan has witnessed five major uprisings against Pakistani rule (1948, 1958, 1963, 1973–77 and from 2004 to the present day), with each rebellion being violently crushed by Pakistan’s military might.This history forms the moral foundation of the Baloch nationalist belief: that they were never willing participants in the Pakistani state and have been treated as an occupied people ever since.
Balochistan is rich in natural gas, coal, copper, gold and uranium, but its people remain dirt poor. More than 60% of Balochistan's population lives below the poverty line. The Sui gas fields in Dera Bugti supply energy to Punjab and Sindh, yet most homes in Balochistan don't have gas connections. Mega projects like the Saindak copper-gold mine and the Gwadar Port (part of CPEC) are operated by foreign companies and the federal government, with little to no local benefit. The people of Balochistan see this as economic colonization, where their land is looted while they are left in darkness.
Balochistan is the most militarized region in Pakistan. Towns, villages and even universities are swarming with paramilitary forces, especially the Frontier Corps and Pakistan Army."Kill and dump" operations—where activists are abducted, tortured and their bodies dumped are rampant.According to human rights groups, thousands of Baloch have been forcibly disappeared, including students, doctors, teachers and journalists. In many cases, victims are found with signs of torture, mutilation, or bullet wounds to the head. This state-sponsored terror has created a climate of fear and trauma across Balochistan.
Baloch culture, language and identity are under attack: Balochi language is not taught in schools and its media is censored. Cultural festivals are banned or disrupted and nationalist symbols are treated as subversive. Islamabad’s narrative pushes for an “Islamic” identity, while ignoring Baloch nationalism, which is rooted in tribal pride, history and secularism. For many Baloch, this is nothing short of an attempted cultural genocide. There are several political and armed groups leading the Baloch freedom movement, each with varying ideologies but a shared goal of independence from Pakistan. One of the most prominent insurgent groups.Carries out attacks on military convoys, government installations, and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor -related projects. Designated as a terrorist organization by Pakistan and some Western countries, but seen by many Baloch as freedom fighters. Founded by Brahamdagh Bugti, the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a revered Baloch nationalist who was killed in a military operation in 2006.
A political organization that demands complete independence, often participating in protests and international advocacy.Active in Europe and North America, the FBM has organized demonstrations outside UN offices, urging global support for Baloch self-determination. While these groups vary in strategy, they all consider negotiation with Pakistan meaningless unless it begins with the recognition of Balochistan as an occupied territory .Pakistan has responded to Baloch aspirations with brutality, censorship, and militarism.

According to the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons More than 20,000 Baloch have been abducted since the early 2000s.Families hold regular sit-ins with pictures of missing loved ones, often ignored by the state.Bodies of activists often turn up in mass graves or remote areas. Torture marks and bullet-ridden corpses send a clear message: dissent will be silenced. Students from Quetta, Khuzdar and Turbat are being abducted from universities. Renowned intellectuals like Saba Dashtyari have been assassinated. Baloch students in Islamabad and Lahore are racially profiled and detained. Journalists covering the Baloch issue are threatened, abducted, or killed. Local press is tightly controlled. International media access is heavily restricted.
Pakistan is considered a strategic ally by the West due to its proximity to Afghanistan and China. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has made China a stakeholder in Baluchistan’s suppression. Gulf countries support Pakistan due to Sunni sectarian alignment and regional politics. This has left the Baloch with no choice but to take their case to the people of the world, through diaspora activism, social media and diplomatic outreach. Former governor of Balochistan who turned rebel. Killed in 2006 during a military operation; his death galvanized the Baloch nationalist movement. Human rights activist who fled to Canada. Found dead under mysterious circumstances in Toronto in 2020. Widely believed to be a targeted assassination by Pakistani intelligence. Aged activist who walked over 2,000 km from Quetta to Islamabad to demand justice for missing persons. Symbol of non-violent resistance. These voices remind the world that the Baloch struggle is not terrorism—it is a fight for survival and justice.
The Pakistani state claims that projects like Gwadar Port and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will bring prosperity. But for the Baloch, they are seen as tools of Demographic change (settling Punjabis and sidelining locals)Military control (protecting Chinese interests over local rights)Economic exclusion (jobs and contracts going to outsiders)Local protests have erupted against Chinese trawlers, forced land acquisitions, and the militarization of Gwadar, but have been met with tear gas, bullets, and detentions.The Baloch diaspora is now organizing international protests in:London (outside Pakistani and UN embassies)Berlin, Geneva, and Washington D.C.Online campaigns under #FreeBalochistan and #SaveBalochStudentsThey demand:UN inquiry into human rights violations Referendum on independence Sanctions against Pakistani generals and intelligence officials
Despite decades of suffering, the spirit of Baloch resistance remains unbroken. The new generation of Baloch youth is more politically aware, globally connected, and less willing to live in silence. However, the struggle is at a crossroads: Will the world finally acknowledge Balochistan’s cause, or continue its policy of strategic silence? Will Pakistan recognize that military occupation cannot suppress identity forever? Will the Baloch find allies who believe in freedom, human dignity, and justice? The Baloch are not asking for privileges. They are asking for freedom from occupation, justice for the disappeared, rights over their land, and the dignity of self-determination.
Their struggle is not one of terrorism, but of resistance to tyranny. It is not driven by hatred of Pakistanis, but by love for Baluchistan’s culture, people, and future. The world must choose: Stand with the oppressed or remain complicit in silence. The Baloch are fighting with stones, words, and dreams. Let history remember: They resisted, they endured, and they never gave up.